PLEASE BE PATIENT

That seems to be my constant message from God! I remember what my brother, Kevin, said one day, “I made a lot of good decisions because I was patient.” I’m with him on that! I’m grateful that God has taught me this valuable lesson of patience because while we wait, God is at work changing us, building our character, and helping us become the people He would have us to be:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control..”

Speaking of Kevin, I sent him this message a few days ago:

“A new foundation. I was building the house on sand.”

I stole that line about a new foundation from Beyonce’s song that’s constantly playing on the radio and realized that’s where your girl here was getting it seriously wrong. GOD MUST BE THE STRONG FOUNDATION OF OUR LIVES!!! This portion from Marianne Williamson’s book, A RETURN TO LOVE, also came to mind:

“What I learned from A Course in Miracles is that the change we’re looking for is inside our heads. Events are always in flux. One day people love you; the next day you’re their target. One day a situation is running smoothly; the next chaos reigns. One day you feel like you’re an okay person; the next day you feel like you’re an utter failure. These changes in life are always going to happen because they’re part of the human experience. What we can change, however, is how we perceive them.

There’s a biblical story where Jesus says we can build our house on sand or we can build it on rock. Our house is our emotional stability. When it is built on sand, the winds and rain can tear it down. One disappointing phone call and we crumble; one storm and the house falls down.

When our house is built on rock, it is sturdy and strong and the storms can’t destroy it. We are not so vulnerable to life’s passing dramas. Our stability rests on something more enduring than the current weather, something permanent and strong. WE’RE DEPENDING ON GOD.”

Can you believe God found a way to confirm this is where He wants all of us in my appointment with the boys today when this showed up in our Jesus Calling Devotional for Kids:

“The wise man who builds his house on the rock is able to get safely through the storms. And the foolish man who builds his house on the sand—well, his house goes splat (that was me!!!)… I (God) am the Rock. Come to Me in prayer, and I will show you what is true, what can be trusted, what is real. Ask My Spirit to guide you… And then trust that I will help you stand firm when the storms come—because I will.”

That’s my testimony, baby! No matter the storms that come my way, GOD IS THERE AND READY TO ASSIST US. It’s just for us to keep our focus on Him, following His lead. Doing our best in the physical realm and trusting He is at work in the spiritual realm on my behalf. And this is the peace you cannot buy! It’s one that you work on my developing a relationship with God. Pray for a closer walk with Him; I promise you, it would be the best decision you can ever make (Wink! Wink!).

“I DON’T ASK GOD FOR TOO MUCH..”

“…I trust that whatever He allows to come my way, will ultimately be good for me. He has a way of turning all my “bad” to such good.” That was me to a customer who mistakenly ended up at our business and buying a vehicle from us on Saturday. Even the challenging paths, I’m thanking God for them. Those paths have brought me closer to Him and there is nowhere better I’ll rather be than close to God’s hearts, WHERE YOU KNOW WITHOUT ANY DOUBT THAT GOD IS WITH YOU AND FOR YOU.

God found a sweet way to let me know today that He is with me. My first appointment with Him this morning was about my famous “311,” where He reminds me to be still and allow Him to fight battles for me while I stay on the HIGHEST road being my best self. I say, ‘No problem, God, I got you!” Fast forward a few hours later, a young lady comes to purchase a vehicle from us, and a number I needed from her incredibly began “311.” Then her insurance agent called, saying she had to make a payment of $117 (another number special to me and God). So even with this business that I’m working so hard to get back on track, God lovingly says, ‘No worries, My Nik, I’m here with you!’ (HUGE SMILE)

How is your relationship with Him going? No matter how far you think you might have drifted from Him, trust me, HE HAS NOT LEFT YOUR SIDE. I had to have a talk with my son, Emmie, today after a teacher called saying he is on his way to earning detention. I called him saying that I’m the queen of falling, but God loves me unconditionally, and he simply says, do better next time and let’s keep going. In fact, my sister Nora (in the picture with me) discussed how God always seems to rescue us when we make mistakes. Like He has mercy on us and sweetly helps us out of tough predicaments. So, just like I told Emmie today, “Just do better next time.” God can help you get any situation back on track, step by step and little by little. NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR HIM!

So, this relationship I’ve developed with God is one where I’m learning to make Him the center of every move I make. All those mistakes have taught me to be wiser in PAUSING and looking to God MORE THAN EVER asking what He would have me do (or not do), what to say (or not say), and where to go (or not go). God knows everything! Wisdom is learning His voice and following wherever He leads.

Like right now, God is teaching me the difficult lesson of patience. Your girl is like Jesus now saying, “Not my will, God, may Your will be done.” I then do what my friend, Ceri, has taught me: Allow God to be God. Meaning I don’t have to control people and situations, I just have to show up, give my utmost best in every moment, and allow God to fight on my behalf. Whatever God does is well done. He knows the experiences we need to help us become the people He would have us to be. The Lord will perfect all that concerns me!

That means we can be full of peace, joy, and confidence (warrior style!) knowing God has our backs and He is at work in the spiritual realm on our behalf. And His love is nothing like what the world has to offer us.

Make sure you have alone times with Him throughout the day asking what He has to say to you. The best life is a life close to God!!! Which is another reason why I don’t ask for much because He exceeds anything I could possibly imagine. Like the teacher calling me today to personally say why she was not happy with our son. I thanked her for correcting him because having and learning discipline is a gift. Emmie may not like it now, but in the future, he will be thanking her. I indeed thank God for all the corrections He sends my way! God corrects those He love. So, don’t run from God, run to Him!!!! Make Him the center of every move you make!!!

“WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOU?”

That was the question from my brother-in-law, Sandy, a short while ago. Honestly, I’m thanking God for him and his wife, Aima. They’re included when I tell you that God sent me a team of angels to support me.

Like I told Sandy today, we’re following their example. They were the first to move to the area where we live, and we literally followed them here almost 19 years ago. Their daughters graduated from top universities, and we’re supporting our daughters to do the same. They go through their ups and down and stick together, and that’s us too.

Most importantly, Aima has taught me to be a wise woman and follow God. And this is where I want us all, knowing on a moment-by-moment basis where God is leading us and following Him.

Are you walking with God? That means we must first learn His voice and the promptings of the Holy Spirit – His voice in each of us. It’s a practical experience of listening to Him. Like I wanted to run to my God tree today to get some glimmer of His Presence, but I promised my brother Jason in the picture that we would meet up for a Sunday business brunch, and I didn’t have time to run all the way to our tree. I felt God in my spirit saying it was OK to cut the run short. So, at 4 minutes past the hour, this incredibly showed up on page 4 of our family’s website:

“Last Sunday, I had the best business brunch with my brother, Jason, (Wink Wink) to discuss how I can better move our car dealership forward. He made one crucial statement: “You are always talking about God, Nik, but you don’t have confidence in Him.”

For that to show up as I was to go and meet up with Jason for another Sunday business brunch was God sweetly revealing another glimmer of His invisible Presence with me. This lined up extremely too perfectly to be some ordinary coincidence! This is the moment-by-moment conversations I want us to have with Him. Even though I didn’t make it to the tree, God found a way of making me aware of His Presence. He is intimately involved in our lives!

And that’s what happens when we walk with Him. He will find all these ways to let you know that you are never alone and He is always with you. (HUGE SMILE) This awareness of His Presence is what gives you the peace, joy, and courage to live your best life with Him knowing He will never leave or forsake us.

The business brunch with Jason didn’t disappoint. He called me stubborn, and I realize that’s something I must work on. I must be open to his suggestions if I’ve asked him to advise me. Thanks J! I now have the clarity I need to keep moving forward confidently with God as my Partner and Guide. May He strengthen and help us all! Amen!

COME AS YOU ARE TO GOD!!!!

That’s the important message I have from God to you guys today!!! It started the other night. I was driving, and the song lyrics said, “Come as you are.” The next day, I’m taking a car to a mechanic’s shop, and the CD left in the car by the previous owner was from a Gospel artist who said, “Come as you are.” That night, I’m selling a car to a couple, and one of them says to me, “God says, ‘Come as you are.’ And suppose that’s not enough for you. In that case, I’m driving to work, testing out the vehicle from the mechanic shop, trying to find a station to listen to, and a Christian station is playing another song saying, ‘Come as you are.’

So, all these are messages from God to all of us! I PROMISE YOU, we don’t have to have our lives all cleaned up and pretty for God. Come with your brokenness, depression, addictions, alcoholism, weaknesses, bad habits, sicknesses, mistakes, and failures. Right where you are now, come to God so He can help you get your life on track little by little, one step at a time. God’s love is unlike the love of other humans who cut us off when we mess up. His love is unconditional and everlasting. Even if we’re the biggest failures on the planet, He loves us and is available to us 24/7.

“It wasn’t pretty!” I said to my sister when she congratulated me on getting two daughters to university in New York this year. It was (and still is) pretty messy. HARD THINGS ARE HARD. But God stood (and stands) STRONG with me. See all the many ways He found to make me and you aware of His invisible Presence with that “Come as you are” showing up all those places (His love for us all!!!)

In all my weaknesses, thank God, I followed His lead. If He said Nik, stay on the high road with me, I did. Nik, love extravagantly. Nik, keep giving your best no matter what is happening around you. Nik, give people the benefit of the doubt. Nik, stay silent. Nik, pretend you don’t see what you see. Nik, pretend you don’t hear what you hear. Nik, stick with Me. Nik, do this. Nik, don’t do that. Nik, someone slaps you on one cheek; give them the other. Nik, keep forgiving. Nik, love covers a multitude of sins. Nik, keep your focus on me. Nik, be happy to suffer this for Me. Nik, endure this for Me. Whatever God said, I did, and let me tell ya, He has wonderfully guided me.

Now I’m with my brother Kevin who said, “Neeks, you have a beautiful life. Enjoy it.” My sons are on their way to join me at work, and I’m here bubbling on the inside, so excited to be with them (I HAVE THE BEST KIDS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!). Joshie told me recently after I told him that he is the most improved student and that I’m the most improved car dealer (HUGE SMILE). Even since Kevin said to teach my kids the “Family Hustle,” I’ve been joyfully running with that. Your girl is now waking up early to get to work, and I stay late. A customer said to me one day, “Be consistent,” and I’ve run with that as well. Some days we sell, some days, we don’t, but I keep showing up and giving it my best, and I’m so happy here (Momma got tuition bills to pay!). God keeps letting me know He is my Partner in every aspect of my life, and even when I mess up and make mistakes, He has my back.

Let me tell ya, I fought through some very tough years to be here today to tell you guys this one crucial message: RUN TO GOD. Make Him the center of every move you make. If I’m being honest with you guys, life dealt me a brutal blow that knocked the winds out of my sails. Completely messed up my mind. But I’m now thanking God for this rough time because it brought me directly into His arms. And there is nowhere better to be. GOD MUST BE THE STRONG FOUNDATION OF OUR LIVES!!!! I NOW KNOW WHO I AM AND WHOSE I AM. I was getting it seriously wrong!!!

Make sure you have alone time with Him, reading or listening to anything spiritually, where you learn more about God daily. THIS LIFE IS TOO ROUGH TO DO ON OUR OWN!!! Off to enjoy my day with my sons!!!

THE LOVE STORY CONTINUES…

HEEHAW!!! God shows me such love that I want the entire world here with me:

“May the love and favor of God rest upon you.”

Amen! Amen! Amen! Even the so-called “bad” experiences turn out to be so good when they help us mature, learn valuable lessons, and, most importantly, BRING US CLOSER TO GOD! Are you getting closer to Him? I love this old post:

“YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT ON ME”

That’s God speaking to me on Valentine’s Day through Justin Bieber’s song Take it Out on Me. Let me tell ya, God had this entire Album, Changes, written especially for me. So, on Valentine’s Day, I listened to it repeatedly, reminded of God’s deep, profound love for His girl here. The song continues:

“Sometimes I don’t mind you havin’ the worst day…
Let your frustrations out right here
I’m your psychiatrist, let’s talk about it…
I see the weight weighin’ on your shoulders
It’s so heavy
Let me be the meaning of your composure
You can take it out on me…
I’ll be your punching bag, hit me with all of your might
And get it all out ’til you feel light
Yeah, I’m your plug
Whatever you need, I’ll make sure you get enough
And when your battery gets low
I’ma be the one to charge you up
Let me massage your mental and your physical
Whenever you lose doubt, I’ll be your miracle
When you’re around me, you should feel invincible
Please don’t forget that”

This is God’s message to you too! There is so much tension, anger, frustrations, and anxieties right now going on with everyone, but I’m a living witness that God is there through all of it. Let Him be the meaning of our composure, being calm and trusting He is with us through the good, bad, and ugly, trusting His with all our hearts.

I loved some messages from my angel/brother, Kevin, yesterday. He reminded me that we all are crazy sometimes, but, importantly, God is our co-pilot, helping us through the difficult and turbulent times. When we are weak, He’s our strength. Honestly, the last two years, I’ve been on this rough emotional roller coaster, but God has stayed STRONG with me. I have no doubt whatsoever now that He is behind the scenes helping me. Even right now, I can’t get over how He protected me from making an awful decision. God, thank You!!!

This is why when the Bible says a person strikes you on one cheek, turn and offer him the other also. God telling me to stay on the high road with Him with my 311 showing up all over the place, loving extravagantly and forgiving endlessly, has been the best advice. When I compare my losses to all the blessings in my life from God (the huge wins), I say no problem, God, anything to please You, let me learn. The things I must suffer and endure, I do it for His glory.

I did a video call with hubby in Nigeria yesterday, showing off our beautiful life that he works so hard to make happen for us. With him, too, I can count all the losses against all the good that he brings to our lives. Ain’t nobody perfect! A pastor friend prayed for us yesterday that we can overcome any trouble that comes our way, by the grace of God. Amen.

Thank you, Justin Bieber, for my love songs from God.

“I HAD TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD WINK!”

That was me to my friend/sister, Nosen! She has been putting up with me and my God winks for 12 incredible years. I’ll never forget a night at Disney World when we were asked to make a wish out loud, and I said I wished we could be friends forever. I still mean it! I say the day we met her at her home in Nigeria, God Himself bowed there first because He knew that this friendship would be one that would impact the world on His behalf. (HUGE SMILE) God sent me to her for training. She has been the best friend anyone could possibly have because she points me to God. No matter the troubles that come my way, she reminds me to keep my focus on Him. That there’s nothing too difficult for God to handle. Or her fav thing to say, “Pray about it!”

But back to that God wink! One day she called me, and I felt God in my spirit saying to pay attention to her telephone number, which includes “811.” A couple of hours later, I’m having to walk pretty far to meet up with my daughter at the airport, and all over the taxi cabs, there was the number “811.” Ever since then, God has been using this “811” as a reminder that specifically means that we can have peace that passes all understanding. And just to show you guys how annoying I am, here are the dates and messages I sent to her regarding this:

June 18: That taxi service with the 811 just passed. God is with us. He wants us to have the peace that passes all understanding because we trust in Him.

August 1: Three of our taxis at doctor’s office (all parked together). 811. God’s peace that surpasses all understanding.

Aug 19: Our number 811 on a check amount. The peace that passes all understanding.

Today 10:19 am: (Sending her another pic of “811”) This is our number boo to have the peace, joy, and courage that passes all understanding.

Today 5:02 pm: I searched for God, and this email came up from 2012: “I’m talking the peace that passes all understanding, my guys!” (Wink Wink!)

Trust me, that was no coincidence that this email from 2012 showed up with that message! It was God Himself making us aware that His invisible Presence is with us. I was putting stickers on our cars outside when I felt my phone vibrating in my back pocket to notify me that it was time for my 5 pm appointment with Him. I simply put “God” in the search bar of my email account and ended up picking out that email to read from 10 years ago. It was God’s way of confirming that He indeed wants us ALL to have this peace, joy, and courage that passes all understanding. WE ARE NEVER ALONE; WE HAVE GOD (ANOTHER SMILE).

GIVE GOD YOUR BEST

That’s my advice to you guys today! I can’t get over how He comes through for me; HE EXCEEDS MY EXPECTATIONS!!! (HUGE SMILE) Like I’m bragging to my husband that we have the best kids in the world. I’m very passionate about my family, y’all!! Today is my elder daughter’s 20th birthday (Am I really that old?!?), and I sent Julie to spend the weekend with her (they are like an hour away from each other at separate New York universities). “You go and show your respect to your older sister!” I forced her to go because Ember has set such a beautiful example for Julie and our sons. We’re blessed to have her fierceness, consistency, wisdom, courage, and closeness to God, setting the PACE for the other kids. Mwah! Happy birthday, my baddie!!!

“You take your whipping, and you keep it skipping,” I just wrote to someone. The figurative whippings are all the disappointments that life throws your way, but the boys and I read this in our appointment with God today (written as if He was speaking to us):

“Shake It Off

The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? – Proverbs 20:24 (NLT)

I have a perfect plan for your life. So trust Me and try to see things from My point of view. When things don’t go quite the way you expected, shake them off. Look up at Me, shrug your shoulders, and say with a grin, “Oh well.” Then just let them go—and move on.

This simple act of trust will keep you from weighing yourself down with little frustrations. With enough practice, you will discover that most things you worry about just aren’t that important. Your energy and time won’t be wasted on things that really don’t matter—and you’ll have the strength to deal with big problems when they do come your way.

You know that thing that’s bothering you right now? Shake it off, and let’s move on together.” – Jesus Calling Devotional For Kids

And no one better to move on with than God, staying on the highest road possible, being our best, most loving, and excellent selves, all for His glory. God had the YouTuber, Stargirl, to speak directly to me in a message recently. I really need to take some time and write out all the wonderful notes through her to me, but today I’ll share two important ones: MERCY AND HOPE:

“I see that the Creator is going to give you a second chance at life. The Creator is going to show mercy to you (He did!!!). The Creator, or whatever you believe in, is going to give you a bone, throw you a bone, and give you a second chance at life, and you’re gonna be receiving generosity from the universe (I have!!!) that helps get you out of this tough place that you’ve been in.

…I’m seeing with the five you’ve been through some difficulty okay and especially with the beggars at the bottom, you have been humbled by the universe some unfair things have happened to you, you’ve been struggling with your self-esteem and you’ve been struggling in general with life. And I’m hearing that… God’s gonna come down and give you hope (He has!!!) or a second chance at life or be generous with you in your material reality to help get you out of this tough place that you’ve been in.”

Honestly, Stargirl is spot on with the generosity God shows me. I truly feel as if I’m His fav girl the way things work out for me (better than I can even imagine) and I’m filled with renewed hope for every aspect of my life.

God is personally involved with our lives, and why I can tell you to just keep going and give God your best because the world may disappoint, but God doesn’t. When the disappointments come, I write them against all the huge blessings God sends my way. As the devotional said, I practice saying, ‘Oh, well,’ and I keep it stepping with my eyes on God knowing no one can take away my biggest blessing: GOD! Amen! And once you have Him, you have all you need! Take your whippings and keep it skipping joyfully with God! He got us! Wink! Wink!

EVEN AT MY LOWEST, GOD STANDS STRONG WITH ME

That’s my testimony, baby! I can brag about my bad times because, in all my weaknesses, God’s strength comes shining through to STAND STRONG with me. HEEHAW!!! I just hung up the phone from my daughter, Julie, a little while ago and she has a joke that if you look up spoilt in the dictionary, you would see a picture of me and her sister Ember holding hands. Well, today, I told her if you look up the definition of “baddie (a female standing strong and doing her thing)” you will see the picture of me, her, Ember, and God holding hands. No matter what comes our way, GOD HIMSELF STANDS WITH US!!!

That means we’re giving our best in every area of our lives on God’s behalf, going for the highest honor. The Greatest. For me, that includes being the best wife supporting and standing strong with the best husband no matter what we go through. I’m sticking with this post I read yesterday on Tumblr.com:

_“I made a vow, I said the words, I gave the pledge, I gave a ring, I took a ring, I gave myself, I trusted GOD, and said the words, and meant the words… in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in good times and in bad…so I am standing NOW, and will not sit down, let down, slow down, calm down, fall down, look down or be down ’til the breakdown is torn down! I refuse to put my eyes on outward circumstances, or listen to prophets of doom, or buy into what is trendy, worldly, popular, convenient, easy, quick, thrifty, or advantageous… nor will I settle for a cheap imitation of God’s real thing, nor will I seek to lower God’s standard, twist God’s will, rewrite God’s word, violate God’s covenant, or accept what God hates, namely divorce! _

In a world of filth, I will stay pure; surrounded by lies I will speak the truth; where hopelessness abounds, I will hope in God: where revenge is easier, I will bless instead of curse; and where the odds are stacked against me, I WILL TRUST IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. I am a STANDER, and I will not acquiesce, compromise, quarrel or quit. I have made the choice, set my face, entered the race, believed the Word, and trusted God for all the outcome. I will allow neither the reaction of my spouse, nor the urging of my friends, nor the advice of my loved ones, nor economic hardship, nor the prompting of the devil to make me let up, slow up, blow up, or give up ’til my marriage is healed.”

The “I WILL TRUST IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS” really stood out strongly to me. I want us all to aim to the best of our abilities to do everything for His honor and glory because our God is truly faithful. I opened our business today all by myself and ended up hugging a customer when I asked her how she heard about us and she said, “I pass here going to and from work and I notice that as soon as your cars come in, they immediately sell. I notice other dealers have the same inventory, but your vehicles sell fast, so that means you have good cars.” That’s the faithfulness of God in action! His favor and support help me in every aspect of my life, including our businesses. From buying the cars (I pray for His guidance on which cars to buy!) to sending customers to buy them from me, God is intimately involved. I’m wisely learning to make Him the center of every move I make asking for Him to direct me. May 2022 bring us all closer to Him! Amen!

“SHOULD YOU FORGIVE YOUR PARTNER FOR CHEATING?”

That was the question asked in one of my Facebook groups this morning. My response was this:

“I think you just have to forget about this infidelity issue in marriage just for peace to reign in our homes. Pretend you didn’t see what you see or hear what you hear, and keep your family happy and together for the glory of God. Learn to be wise and silent. Leave people to change on their own.”

An admin then wrote this: “I’m not sure what you are referring to. Are you saying if infidelity happens in marriage, a couple should not deal with it?”

Me: “I’m saying deal with it a wiser way. This infidelity issue is something that has been with us and will always be with us. I feel as women, we have a special role from God to keep our homes happy and together (the glue). In fact, after writing that comment, this showed up in my appointment with God:

“When the cross part of the marriage shows its ugly head, I have decided to lovingly and joyfully carry it for God. That means being silent and pretending I don’t see what I see or hear what I hear, overlooking 10,000 of hubby’s faults because God overlooks 10,001 of my own. If I have to be the peacemaker and glue holding my family together, no problem!”

The crazy thing was that I just had finished my appointment with God under our tree together and had continued back on my way home. My phone’s alarm alerted me that it was time for my 12 pm appointment with Him, so I went to page 12 of our family’s website. That message repeating exactly what I had written to the group in response to that question was God Himself getting involved with that conversation. No coincidence! God designed these men, so He knows best how to deal with them! (LOL!!)

I feel it’s time for us to evolve as women and stop allowing this infidelity issue to destroy our homes and our peace and joy. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it isn’t going anywhere. It is what it is, folks! I love a conversation with my daughter, Ember, recently. She was talking to a Muslim friend who goes to the same university as her. She asked him about having more than one wife. He responded (and I totally agree!), “That’s all men. It’s only that my religion allows for it.”

Super difficult assignment/role we have from God as women, but we do it for God and our family. Like yesterday, I had the best day with my son, Emmie, at work, even though we fought most of it. We ended up spending hours in a store buying a treadmill, and I told him that this treadmill was what I needed to train myself like an athlete every day so that I can show up as the best wife, mom, and person. For me, that means being Tom Brady and Mike Tyson in one, doing whatever I have to do for my family to stay on God’s paths for our lives. If that means taking 10,000 punches for the team and being silent about it, I do what I gotta do, and I keep going.

“You have kids,” was again the vital statement from our friend, Ceri. I needed the treadmill to get out earlier to work, and I didn’t feel comfortable going out running in the dark. My hardworking husband has totally spoilt me, so now I’m trying to set a better example to our kids about having a solid work ethic. With two daughters in university in New York, momma gotta step up her game in helping hubby with our businesses, not letting the WEEDS overshadow the WHEAT and distract me. My eyes are on God’s prize for my family! Superhero wife, mom, and person, all for the glory of God! Like Ceri has also taught me, “You have to let go and give God the opportunity to be God.” I just show up as my most loving, patient, and excellent self, allowing God to fight on my behalf. Wink! Wink!

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

“NEEKS, YOU HAVE A GORGEOUS LIFE; ENJOY IT”

Reading those words from my brother/angel, Kevin, under my God tree this morning made me so happy! I stick with this verse:

“The Lord says, “I will make you wise and show you where to go.

I will guide you and watch over you.” – Psalm 32:8

God has been the beautiful guide of my life, let me tell ya! Like if you’re not walking with Him all day, every day, you are missing out! THIS LIFE IS TOO DIFFICULT TO DO WITHOUT HIM!!! On the way to work today, I played this song that God is singing to all of us:

“I must make you understand

I want to be your Man (I wanna be your Man)” – Zapp

God goes to great extents to make me aware of His invisible Presence with me. Like I’m really taking charge of our car dealership, where I personally drive all the vehicles home to make sure they are ready before selling. Yesterday, after constantly arguing with my daughter, Ember, about who is God’s fav, I was listening to a CD left in the car by the previous owner, and it incredibly said this in CD 11, track 17:

“This is dedicated to My favorite girl (Wink! Wink!)”

And the fact that it was song 11/17 was added confirmation because whenever I see 11 and 7 together, it’s my sign from God that His invisible Presence is always with me.

My Nike Run today was about running for more joy. We are to be filled with joy so we can spread that joy to the world. I took that as a personal mission from God! I must show up as my most joyful self and spread that joy to you. God’s rockstar! This life is rough, but this was God’s message under the tree today:

“What then will the cross be for us? Look: what do you find most difficult in your everyday life? Well, that’s the Redeemer’s cross for you. Those tough temptations you meet, your ill health, your heavy demanding work, the defects of the people among whom you live, who hurt you…. Have supernatural outlook! All this, for you, is the cross of Christ…CARRY IT JOYFULLY, LOVINGLY. Carry it generously and you will learn to hide it from those around you, as you would hide a treasure. Hide it behind a generous smile and you will discover in the depths of your soul, what our Lord’s words mean when he says, ‘My yoke is easy and my burden is light’ (Mt 11:30); for he, the good Cyrenean of souls will help you carry it.” – Jesus As Friend by Salvatore Canals

Got that guys?!? God is available to help us carry our crosses (whatever they are!). Kevin tells me my cross is a spec of a cross compared with other people’s crosses! So, I run with that! I carry my spec of a cross joyfully on behalf of God with the hopes that my life will glorify Him. That you will ask God to be your Man where you are going to Him in the 1,000 decisions you make every day, too. I’m not going to lie to you, this one continually question has guided my life to a great place:

“God, what would You have me to do here?”

Even when it’s difficult, I stick with God, and He EXCEEDS my expectations! I was bragging to my friend, Marcie, on my run today: “We did it! Two daughters to top universities in New York in one year! That’s how we do, baby!” Now it’s the boys turn! Yesterday Joshie’s friends asked him why I sent him to school sick. He responded, “She doesn’t care!” Emmie is here at work with me upset that I’m upset that his grades are currently reflecting two B’s. Homie, doesn’t play that! I need all A’s!!!

I really have to thank our friend, Ceri, who made one crucial statement to me one day: ‘You have kids.” I took that as meaning that the sad, emotional, crazy lady needed to say bye, and the strong, focused, mature, handling her business woman needed to come out. Today on that run, I wore my greatest of all time (GOAT) shirt, meaning I’m going for God’s top prize of being the best wife, mother, and person He would have me to be. When I die, I imagine Him saying, “Well done my good and faithful servant.’ May God help us all!!!

“I will seek to honor God, obey His word, and do His will.” – Courageous