I’M JUST TRYING TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Like I would be a terrible human being if I kept this great news to myself! That we can go through life with a God perspective knowing His invisible Presence is continually with us. It doesn’t get better than this! In every moment, we have the Creator of the entire universe walking with us, advising us, loving us, accepting us, taking care of us, and teaching us.

The teaching part is what I didn’t find funny this weekend in God’s school of hard lessons!!! I was so sad, bursting out crying, an emotional train wreck for sure. But I didn’t call anyone, I went running to God, asking Him what it is He would have me to learn. And let me tell ya, God’s ways are not like human ways, they’re so much better. Here are some of the sweet lessons from my awful weekend:▪ We are not handling life alone. We can show up, do our best, and trust that God is behind the scenes helping us. That’s FAITH! Our burdens are light when we allow God to handle the complex parts (the 99.75%) in the spiritual realm while we do the light .25% in the physical realm. We can imagine ourselves and God wearing a yoke (the wooden bar used to put two animals together by the neck), where we can lightheartedly tackle problems, giving God the heavier parts. When we feel overwhelmed and stressed (me this weekend!), that’s our cue to know we’re taking on too much of the load, and we’re not trusting God enough. The battles belong to Him! We can, therefore, think best-case scenarios, not worst-case KNOWING GOD IS STANDING WITH US AND THAT HE IS ON OUR SIDE. His love and favor follow us wherever we go! Whatever happens, we trust it’s from the hands of a loving God who knows what is best for us. Woohoo!!!

▪ “Stay strong, Nikki,” was the advice of someone yesterday. That was another lesson. In any given moment, we can decide who we want to be – weak or strong, victor or victim. I kept reminding myself of the words of my brother, Kevin: “Neeks, I want you to shine bright. Let them they say how did this woman get so strong!” I’m now saying I want to shine BRIGHTER for God, shining His goodness in as many dark places as possible.

▪ “Emmie, you must forgive your dad.” That was me to my son this morning. I explained that his father does so much good that we just have to forgive him when the negative parts show up. That’s the unconditional love God has been teaching me in all my relationships. Nobody’s perfect. Like Marianne Williamson has taught me, we can either focus on someone else’s guilt or we can focus on their innocence. This person who shows up as the best husband and father has earned our unconditional love and respect. Sometimes that means I have to wisely choose my battles and pretend I don’t see what I see. Ain’t nothing perfect! You must learn to MANAGE the difficult situations God throws your way with lots of PATIENCE.

▪ PLEASING GOD MUST BE OUR PRIORITY AS WE GO THE EXTRA MILE IN MERCY (PARDONING WITHOUT PUNISHMENT) AND LOVE. Others may disappoint us, but God EXCEEDS our expectations when we stick with Him. Wink! Wink!

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