“GOD WILL SEND YOU AN ANGEL TO CALM YOUR MIND”

I can’t get over these words from someone who called me from Nigeria. The crazy thing is that God didn’t just send me an angel, He honestly sent me an entire team of angels. Like my husband questioned my relationship with our friend, Ceri, yesterday (hubs is low-key jealous!) and I had to explain to him how Ceri faithfully does these messages every morning in a group that I now upload to YouTube and no shame, I replay them repeatedly to literally help calm my mind.

I realized that a BIG problem I have going on is that my mind gets stuck replaying the same nonsense all day long. If I don’t fight it (the battlefield of the mind is real) with positive, uplifting messages, I fall continually. The message from Ceri that I’ve listened to a good 10 times reminds me that despite all the negatives, I still have so much to thank God for and that I should REJOICE AND BE HAPPY. And like I always say, “It’s a celebration when we discover our weaknesses!” Thank You, God!!!

Another angel God has sent my way is my sister, Nora. She brings such calmness to our home and such great vibes that I’m blown away by God’s kindness. When I asked her why she was up so early today, she replied, “I wanted to make our smoothie.” Honestly, our biggest fight is about her wanting to help me more and me telling her to support me less and focus on her goals. See the love of God! When I asked Emmie to take him to buy supplies for a project recently, he told me he wanted Nora and not me to take him. It was my sister, Kelly, who asked one day who would be helping me with the boys since both girls were leaving for university. One phone call to Nora, and she immediately agreed to come and support me. She even came a week before Julie left just so she would know the precise routine and what I needed help with. I always write about how God exceeds my expectations, and Nora and Ceri are only two examples.

And about this jealous husband (huge smile) who is another gift from God to me, I tell him that Ceri has been pointing me to God and how to be the wife God Himself is calling me to be: loving him unconditionally. I’m sticking with the vows I made: Good times and bad times, sickness and in health, until death do we part, baby! That whatever we have to go through, we will go through it together. I want to be an even better wife for this husband who goes overboard in his family responsibilities. He is in Nigeria at the moment working extremely hard for us (as usual) and it was so funny that a song played on the radio one evening when I was out with my son, Emmie, and he said, “This is the song I played for daddy:

“Early in the morning, late at night (I will wait for you)
It don’t even matter what time it is (I will wait for you).” – Future

I then showed him my phone with so many messages to his dad playing the song whenever I hear it on the radio. That was so special to me that my son and I both landed on this song for hubby without even knowing it. I noticed one day Emmie was looking through my phone, and he went directly to my messages to his dad. I asked him why and he said he wanted to make sure I wasn’t going crazy. This reminded me that my kids are an audience to my life now, and I want to be an example for them to follow when its time for them to fight for their familes. Amen!

Julie made me so happy when I told her that she has to go into Tom Brady mode, training herself like an athlete every day. She said “No, I need to go into Nikki mode.” Our kids are watching us! She sees me fall a million times, but she also sees me get back up a million and one, and how I never stop seeking a closer relationship with God.

I’ve decided to use the time away from hubby to build my foundation with God even stronger and to focus on doing my crucial work in the world of bringing you guys closer to Him. “A STRONG LIFE IS ONE THAT HELPS OTHERS.” Don’t take my word for it, though, get to know the sweetness of God for yourself!!!

“DON’T FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT.” THAT’S GARBAGE ADVICE”

(REPOST)

I disagreed with this Facebook post yesterday because let me tell ya, it’s wisdom sometimes to put on a fake smile and keep it moving. I told them how I could be boiling angry inside, but I’ve learned to put on a poker face and keep my emotions in check. Even yesterday, I had my daughter with me at work, and a representative came from one of our banks to say hello. I brought Julie to my office to meet him because he brings such energy, personality, enthusiasm, and positivity with him. I told Julie, “This is how I want you to be when you go to New York. No matter how you feel inside, you show up with that joyful, fun, and eager attitude. You fake it if you must!”

There is an art to this wisdom thing that I’m learning from God and a big part of that is knowing the battles to fight and the ones to ignore. I loved this message from my Joel Osteen’s inspirational email today:

“And they regarded Saul with contempt and did not bring him a gift. BUT HE IGNORED THE INSULT AND KEPT SILENT.” – 1 Samuel 10:27

That’s wisdom, baby! We have to get great at this ignoring if we’re going to live God’s best life, He had planned for us before we were even born. Unfortunately, that means faking it (putting a smile on your face) whenever necessary and leaving certain situations and people with God to fight for us. I loved the verse our customer, Richard, told me one day under my God tree:

“Vengeance is mines, says the Lord.”

Minutes after speaking to Him, it was 59 minutes past the hour, and I went to page 59 of our family’s website, and look what incredibly showed up there:

“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink.” – Romans 12:19-20

God went to the trouble of confirming that this is where He wants us all. So all day, I want us to have precious conversations with God about the battles we’re to fight and the ones to ignore and keep silent about. Everything is between God and us, not between us and anyone else. And let me tell ya, when I ask God to be the Guide and priority of my life, the blessings chase me down.

Yesterday was one of the best days ever with my daughter, Julie. Today it’s Ember’s turn, and I’m so happy teaching them my side of the family hustle for when she starts her college internships in New York, by the grace of God. Teamwork makes the dream work! This morning, I ran into a fellow jogger who explained that everyone has their cross to carry, but he opened his arms and said, “Look around. Look where you live. You’re in paradise!” That’s the blessings of God that I don’t want you guys missing out on. God has been the trusted Guide of our family. Not that we’re perfect, but even the imperfections are all a part of His perfection to help us be calmer, wiser, more loving, braver, and closer to Him people. I loved what my brother, Kevin, said today when I said God was teaching me courage. He said, “No, God is teaching you to depend on Him for your security and not other people.”

Pray all day. Every day. Tapping into God’s direction for our lives on a moment by moment as we show up as our best and shiniest selves, all for His glory! Amen!

“THE BEST THING I CAN TELL YOU IS TO GET CLOSER TO GOD” (REPOST)

That was indeed the best advice I got from my brother, Kevin, recently. I had one of my awful moments, and I needed a little pep talk from him, and he came through telling me that I should make God a priority. And it turned out to be the best thing! Crazy that the God maniac here who is always preaching to you guys about getting closer to God needed that reminder, but I did.

I ran with the advice by having lots of alone time with God. I found Dr. Charles Stanley on YouTube, and he was like a personal messenger from God to help me through a rough life patch. It was tough talk that I needed to hear to make some significant decisions. So much so that I had no doubt whatsoever that this was God’s way of wrapping His arms around me to comfort me and melt away all my fears, frustrations, and anxieties. Dr. Stanley has built my faith in God so much stronger. He said no matter what we go through, we can know without any doubt that God is there standing with us. He is!!!

Do you have a personal relationship with God where you know that His invisible Presence is with you, too? I enjoyed listening to one of Dr. Stanley’s sermons yesterday with my husband. It was about having a strong life. Where we build our lives on a strong foundation with God and that no matter what is going on we can be strong and not resorting to drugs or alcohol to cope with difficulties. In it, he highly suggested having alone times with God. I’m a living testimony to the greatness of these appointments with God. His advice is always the best! I reread old posts, I have mediation books, and now I have Dr. Charles Stanley on YouTube. (HUGE SMILE)

God is pretty talkative once you get to know Him. He has guided my life on a terrific path, and I would be an awful human being if I don’t share this awesome news with you. Make today the day you start taking your relationship with God seriously. I make many tough decisions following God’s leading, and let me tell ya, those decisions always work out better than I can ever expect or imagine. Nothing better than going through life with God as your Companion and Guide! He doesn’t force Himself on us; He just patiently waits for you to invite Him in. Will you say, ‘God, I want a closer walk with You?’ Then start listening to Him in your spirit. Once we obey Him, we can confidently leave all consequences in His capable hands. Wink! Wink!

“WHAT THE ____________?”

HEHEHE!!! That was me to my support group today! (HUGE SMILE) I told you guys that God loves me so much that He personally gave me an entire team of angels to support me. No joke! For example, someone I know God sent to assist me is our friend, Ceri. HE IS MY PERSONAL MESSENGER FROM GOD. No shame, I joke with him that I’m his official stalker because he makes me a better wife, mom, and person, BUILDING MY FAITH IN GOD TO ANOTHER LEVEL. I even have my sister, Kelly, listening to a group where Ceri speaks every morning so she can call me and let me know when he is up to present. The messages are so good that I now upload them to YouTube because they’re just too wonderful to keep to myself.

Like the one yesterday, I listened to it a good five times (no shame! This life is rough!) because I was having a terrible day where my mind was just getting the best of me stuck on the saddest and most awful thoughts. No shame guys! Ceri has this extraordinary GIFT of taking passages from the Bible and using them to give us a new perspective on walking with God in our lives TODAY. For example, these verses yesterday were spot on:

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. – Habakkuk 3:17-19

I relistened so many times to Ceri’s message because right now I have an empty car lot, and I’m fighting just like thousands of other used car dealers to find inventory. But Ceri just reminded me that despite that, I still have so much to thank God for and that I should REJOICE AND BE HAPPY. Honestly, yesterday, a big part of my problem was that I was exhausted from getting up early every morning to go to work and I was reminded that God was my strength, not only in finding cars to sell but in all the other aspects of my life that I’m finding extremely challenging at the moment.

But Ceri also reminded me about Jesus’ message that we’re to love God and love others. Your girl is feeling like Jesus at the moment when he was about to be crucified saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.”- Luke 22:42 I’m happy to suffer by carrying my spec of a cross for everything God is doing for me. This is where I want us all though, asking God what would please Him and then being about doing that. Even the complicated stuff because trust me, GOD GIVES MORE THAN WE CAN EVER ASK OR IMAGINE WHEN WE FOLLOW HIS PATH FOR OUR LIVES. I loved a comment from my assistant today, “Nik, they’re asking why our cars are selling so fast?” I have one answer: GOD’S FAVOR AND GUIDANCE. This verse is what I go with:

“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

Don’t play around with your relationship with God. I get Him involved in every decision I make, which is seriously paying off. I have the peace you cannot buy, KNOWING I’M NOT GOING THROUGH LIFE ALONE; MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD. Make sure you are taking time to learn His voice. He has great plans for us, but we miss out if we are not listening to Him. MAKE GOD YOUR TOP PRIORITY AND FOCUS!!! Listen to Ceri’s messages!!! His wisdom is clearly from God to us.

“EVEN WHEN I GET MAD AT YOU, I JUST HAVE TO FORGIVE YOU”

That was me to my very spoilt daughter, Ember, today! Julie was right that when you look up spoilt in the dictionary, you will see a picture of us holding hands. Super spoilt daughter I have! So, after fighting with her, I called her today to say I was so happy with the momma who showed up on a call yesterday from her. No more crazy lady, but a wise, calm, and sane mom who has gotten herself to a very proud place. I told her that thanks to her awful criticism one day some months ago that the crazy lady was “the usual,” I decided to work on that, and by God’s grace, I’m much better. God, thank You!!!

Can you believe God got involved in our conversation a few hours later? It was 21 minutes past the hour, and because I didn’t have my noon appointment with Him, I went to page 21 of our family’s website. Look what shockingly showed up:

“ANOTHER HUMILIATION FROM MY DAUGHTER, EMBER!!

She is constantly opening my eyes to areas where I’m getting it seriously wrong…So, this week I said something to Ember in regards to the crazy, sad, and depressed mama that shows up way too often, and she said, “That’s the usual.”” (Wink! Wink!)

I’m talking about the very conversation I had with Ember that showed up there! Wow! There I was calling Ember to thank her for that precise statement, and God had that story planted there on page 21 at 21 minutes past the hour, just as another glimmer of His invisible Presence with me. They are what I call my God winks, where everything lines up immensely too perfectly to be considered some ordinary coincidence. He had that as one of His special surprises to brighten my day and let me know that His Presence is always with me. MAKE SURE YOU ARE HAVING YOUR APPOINTMENTS WITH GOD!!! These winks from Him are what give me the encouragement to confidently, joyfully, and peacefully take on my life.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” JOHN 16 : 3 3 (AMP)

And about this forgiveness thing! I had a beautiful conversation with a customer recently about this topic. He said you forgive because you know who you are and Whose you are. Let me tell ya, when you are close to God, you just feel like any disappointment that comes your way, God more than makes up for them. You can, therefore, just shake off the blows and keep it moving with your eyes on God. What anyone does is between them and God; whatever we do is between Him and us. “Revenge is Mines says the Lord.” Life is too short to be fighting useless and unnecessary battles! Forgive everyone for everything and simply hand everything over to God; He knows what He is doing with each of us. Like, God, that’s Your child. You deal with them!

I just wake up every day focused on asking God that I do His will because He gives me more than I can ever ask or imagine. Julie is right, I’m spoilt too by God and my hubby, who works so hard for us.

Keep the criticisms coming, my Ember, “It’s a celebration when we discover our weaknesses!” Especially when we add in the God factor! Wink! Wink!