“I CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD!!!” (REPOST)

That was me to my momma this morning! I had just returned from an interval run with my Nike Run Club peeps, and I was feeling FANTASTIC. I felt God say to me yesterday that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning, and that was me all the way – FULL OF JOY AND EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE – My hope is in God, baby!

And one of the main reasons why I can be so hopeful is because of my solid relationship with God. He finds these sweet ways to let me know He is with me. Like on that run, in the middle of a ten-minute tempo spurt, I literally STOPPED to type in my phone’s notes what I felt was one of my God thoughts:

“TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE”

Fast forward a couple of hours later, I go to work, and a computer I was using had an internet issue. I then go to another. As I finished up with a task, I got up to leave, but while standing, I grabbed a Jesus Always book from that desk and randomly opened it to see what God had to say to me, and this message from Him incredibly showed up:

“…bring those captive thoughts into My Presence…”

There I was on that run STOPPING to make a note of how I have to take every thought captive, and a couple of hours later, God politely says, “Bring those captive thoughts to Me, Nik!!!” You may call it coincident, but there is no way that this just happened to line up on it’s own. It was another one of my God winks, where out of the blue, everything lines up a little bit TOO perfectly. In a book of over 365 pages, what are the chances of me opening to that message from Him after me stopping during that run to make that small note? It was God revealing His invisible Presence with me, and with you too. Heehaw!

Let’s take all of our thoughts captive to Him, looking at them from His perspective. Thoughts of worry can become, ‘God, I trust You.’ Thoughts of feeling unloved can become, ‘God, Your love is enough.’ Thoughts of anger can become, ‘God, others may disappoint me, but You will pay me back more than what anyone can ever take from me. My reward is with You.’ Thoughts of past regrets and failures can become, ‘My God can restore everything I’ve lost. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH Him.’ NO MORE THINKING THE WRONG THINGS, WE CAN FOCUS ON GOD!

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“WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR 2020?”

Was the surprising question from my husband today. After thinking about it for a few seconds, I replied, “Get CLOSER to God.” And, of course, I want you here with me, enjoying the sweet life with Him as our Partner and Guide. Are you with me?

For me that will be more conversations with God about everything! In everything I say, everything I do, everywhere I go, ‘God, what would You have me to do here?’ Simply taking life one step and one moment at a time using God’s charm, wisdom, and tact. That includes holding my tongue a whole lot!

With SOOOO many balls in the air right now, I need Him more than ever to help me navigate my way through them all. With His help I can do ALL things! is my attitude. Just spoke to my sister about one of them, and I told her that I’m sure God has everything already worked out for me. I just have to keep showing up as my most excellent, loving, and kind self, listening to Him through my spirit as to which way He would have me to go. I do my best with everything He would have me to do, and I leave the rest with Him. I love this old blog post:

_“And enjoying the sweet life with God is what these posts are about! ‘Because I’m happy’ is the chorus of a song I can’t seem to get out of my mind. So even when so many people and circumstances around me try to steal my joy, I keep my focus on God and what He would have me to do from moment to moment. I’m learning to choose my battles very wisely, becoming a professional ignorer—kindly and respectfully—in lots of cases, and to LIGHTEN UP and enjoy life. _

_My Jesus Calling had the best advice for me one day: “Don’t let the impact of the world shatter your thinking or draw you away from focusing on Me. The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on Me, no matter what is going on around you. When I am central in your thinking, you are able to view circumstances from My perspective.” _

Getting here, with my focus always on God, has been the reason why I’m feeling so happy. I’m finally learning to relax and enjoy our adventure together. So even with all the challenges ahead of me right now, I’m trusting God that there’s nothing He and I can’t handle together. I feel completely safe and secure and I’m not worried about the future, or the past, but I’m learning to enjoy all life’s moments.

Dear God, thank You for standing beside us as we journey through the difficult and good times. Amen.

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IS IT REAL? (REPOST)

All this God stuff I’m writing about every day. I get questioned by atheists all the time who don’t believe, and I simply share what I heard from a Pastor:

“He told a story of a guy having a debate with some atheists, who gave so many reasons why we should not believe in God. After which, the man calmly took a bite of the apple and then asked the atheist, “Is this apple sweet or sour?” The atheist replied, “How would I know if I haven’t tasted it?” The guy then replies, “That’s the same with my God, until you’ve tasted the sweetness, you’ll never know.””

Like take for example, I went to the U.S. with lots of challenges on my plate to deal with. I went to work at our office there, and I’m told that we must replace the building’s roof to pass a re-certification process.

It just so happened that the first printed copy of my book had just arrived and after hearing this news and feeling overwhelmed by everything else I had to contend with, I had an appointment with God reading it. I was reminded of all the many challenges I’ve been through that God magically had solutions come to my mind, the right people show up to assist me and His Spirit guiding me step by step on how to handle them. I left that appointment feeling super confident! I’m more than a conqueror; my God is with me!

There were like four professionals that we had contacted who all advised us to replace the roof. Here’s where persistence and determination pay off because I refused to go that route, despite being told by all these “experts” that this was the only way to go. At one point, even my husband said, “Nikki, enough already, let’s move forward with replacing the roof.” I said, “No, God has the final word!”

My assistant needed to mail something out to the firm we had hired to help us with this process. And because time was of the essence, I told her we should personally take it. She gets there, and she’s given the best advice, go to the re-certification office directly and speak with them explaining the situation. She ended up talking to an unbelievably nice guy who said that all the experts were wrong and because we had documents to back up our case, he approved our building’s roof as is- no replacement necessary!

This has been the case so many times with God. He guides us to the right people to assist us, the right solutions and the right steps to take, no matter the challenge that comes our way. In fact, that went for all the problems I had to deal with on that trip. I’ll never forget wanting to hire another expert at one point to help me with another matter, and God says to me in an appointment that He’s the only expert I needed. It was His way of training me to go out on a limb with Him, trusting Him to guide me. It worked. I’m feeling so close to Him, and I want you guys here with me!

Is it real? I don’t know for you, but I’ve tasted the sweetness of God, and I’m not letting go.

“With God’s help we will do mighty things.” Psalm 108:13

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SUPERHUMAN: LET’S DO THIS

That was me at about 6 a.m. one morning trying to motivate myself to exercise, and I’m proud to say I completed my 25-minute goal. Yayy! Go superhuman!

But this challenge from God to become super people in the world, not going by the ordinary rules of man, is a big one and it’s not easy. Physical discipline and telling my body it will exercise is one thing, but the spiritual discipline of trusting God in difficult circumstances—to love, forgive, and have mercy on ourselves and others, developing endurance and patience in trusting in God’s timing when we want to give up—is totally on another level.

And this is why I’m trying not to be upset at a friend who ended her marriage. I even get why she never called me to discuss it because I do the same thing sometimes with a close friend, saying to myself, I don’t want any of her stinking positive advice. So, I get it. But I also get that when we reach this superhuman level in our relationships, everything changes. To see the innocence in others and not their mistakes, to see all the good qualities and not just the ones we don’t like, to accept that nobody’s perfect and to love them anyway, and to overlook the unimportant, brings such joy to our lives. I’m not talking about regular joy; I’m talking about supernatural joy and peace that passes all understanding.

I love a text message I woke up to on my phone:

“Difficult times come to test the essence of true love. Love is not just about laughter and happiness. It needs to withstand difficulty to survive.”

At about 4 a.m. one morning, it was my pleasure to make tea and toast for my hubby as he said to me, “Nik, I’m sticking with you.” I told him that I’m sticking with him, too, and it was such a beautiful moment that I will cherish.

“Keep your eyes open to the beauty that surrounds you. God has placed many blessings upon your path. Gather them with joy.” – Maria Fontane, Mottos For Success

_“Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one who finds the gold” (Proverbs 11:27). _

Our Lord, help us become the superhumans you have created us to be. Amen.

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“MOMMY, YOU’RE VERY CLOSE TO GOD”

That was from my little nine-year-old sweetie, Joshie. In his mind, he said he had noticed that nothing bad ever seems to happen to me. That God protects me, and I don’t get hurt. Psalm 91, baby:

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””

Speaking of this Joshie, can you believe He is the one teaching the God geek here how to love? Yup. He is. He shows such genuine love that I say if no one else in the world loves me, I know my son, Joshie, does. Now, I’m about showing the love that I’m learning from him and God to the people in my life. I read this in an appointment with God while sitting in a hospital room last night:

“What I want in you is a spirit of love and humility, one that is constant and independent of created things, freed from the earth and ready for heaven at my first call. Joyously ready. Without joy the departure would be without love. Joy is the song there was also the invisible cross of all the days of My life of thirty-three years. Haven’t you yours too, My beloved children?” – He and I

Yes, I certainly do have my crosses, but I’ve made up my mind to carry them joyously, all for the love and glory of God. The separation from my husband and boys in Nigeria has been tough on me this year, but I sent my hubby this text yesterday:

“All I know and all I need to know is that God found me the best husband in the world. My love for you is unconditional. Thank you for being my best friend, best husband, and best baby daddy. Ride or die chick forever.”

Whatever I do, boring God nerd and all, this husband sticks with me, and just like Joshie, HE SHOWS me his genuine love. In a world of fake love, I know I have someone by my side to go through the good and bad times with until death do us part. Thanks, boo, and thank You God for my beautiful life.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
_ bind them around your neck,
_ write them on the tablet of your heart.
_ Then you will win favor and a good name
_ in the sight of God and man.
_ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
_ and lean not on your own understanding;
_ in all your ways submit to him,
_ and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:3-6

God, I’m putting You at the forefront of all my actions. Amen!

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“THIS LIFE IS ROUGH”

This was me yesterday to someone waiting downstairs at a hospital. To be honest, I didn’t have the courage to go up to the room. The person I went to see was having a procedure done, and I wasn’t brave enough to go and see them, but I called the nurse to check on how it was going, and I’ll go early this morning for a visit.

So, I get it. The heaviness of life is no joke. But that’s where God comes beautifully in:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

Whenever situations are getting too hard for me, I automatically know that I’m taking on too much of the burden and not relying on God. And this depending on God is something we have to begin each day again trying to go even DEEPER in our dependence on Him.

This hospital situation is doing exactly that for me. There is only so much the hospital and doctors can do, but my confidence and hope are in God, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. “Setbacks are opportunities to display God’s power.” Whatever He does, like my brother, Kevin, taught me, is well done. I trust Him completely. Our job is simply to walk with Him as He shows us the way, taking life one step at a time, asking, “God, what should we do here?” Going with the decisions that bring us peace when we think about them. Like having this procedure brought us peace when we considered it. Holding on to His hands SUPER TIGHT.

“Put your hand in the hand of the man
_ Who stilled the water
_ Put your hand in the hand of the man
_ Who calmed the sea”_

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CLAIM IT WITH ME: 2020 WILL BE MY BEST YEAR YET

I’m feeling it, BY THE GRACE OF GOD. I’m going NEGATIVE on all the NEGATIVE, baby! Sorry, guys, you can’t hold down your girl over here any longer!!! I’ll be using you and all the drama, pain, hurts, challenges, obstacles, disappointments, and all the other miseries that have EVER come my way as FUEL to be the best, happiest, and fiercest ever version of me in 2020. Woohoo!!! Are you with me?

I got a special, special message from God, and I’m taking it as my KEY WORDS for 2020: SHINE BRIGHT!!! This God wink began the other day when my friend, Danny, sent me a Whatsapp message, “Hey girlie. How are you?” We ended up having one of our sacred conversations, and I said, “Let’s keep SHINING my sweetie. What anyone else does is between them and God. Let’s get even BRIGHTER. Let all this junk make us happier.” EXACTLY 2 MINUTES LATER, I checked my Facebook notifications, and unbelievably they told me that SHINE BRIGHT (Wink! Wink!) had liked my post. This was no coincident, it was God letting me and my friend know that once again He is intimately involved in ALL the details of our lives.

And the wink didn’t stop there! Fast forward the next day, I was telling my nephew, Duro, that I couldn’t play the entire song he introduced me to to his mom because of what I thought would be inappropriate lyrics. He replied, “My mom listens to songs like that. She likes that song ‘Diamonds In the Sky.’ For some strange reason, I went right away to Apple Music to look for that song to play as I drove him home. The song amazingly began:

“SHINE BRIGHT (Wink! Wink!) like a diamond”

After dropping him off, I continued playing the song, really feeling it was INDEED a message from God to me. Then, I noticed some bright lights in the sky. The more I drove, the BRIGHTER they got. Then stopping at a red traffic light, I saw they were a part of a Christmas light show from a shopping center. Right there at that traffic signal, I finally got the message from God: Nik, this is how I want you shining in the world! As Rihanna sang in the background: SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND. Wink! Wink!

Wow! I was just telling Duro how I feel that I’m God’s FAVORITE girl and He goes to all this trouble to orchestrate a whole light show and song for me with that vital message. What kind of love is this? Forget you negativity, I’ll be too busy shining brightly for God:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

CLAIM IT WITH ME: 2020 WILL BE MY BEST YEAR YET

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GOD SHOWS UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM

This God wink started some months ago. I’ve been BEGGING my brother, Kevin, to PLEASE start some inspirational voice messages for me to share on WhatsApp. He’s seriously helping me to get my mind together – even coaches need coaches! And I finally got the first recording yesterday morning. Here’s a little of WHAT K HAD TO SAY:

“It’s all a Divine plan. Be it joy. Be it greatness. Be it happiness. Be it anger. Be it sorrow. Be it hurt. It’s all apart of His plan. Down to baby ANTS ON THE GROUND that pick-up crumbs of bread that we don’t even see. Don’t even know is there. It helps them to live. It helps them to feed their nest. It helps them to survive in this world of jumbo jets, and they being just little ants. Everything in this world is Divine. Everything is here for a reason. A purpose. And there is only one Divine Power that makes this clock tick.”

Fast forward to that evening. I played this message for someone I was with at the emergency room, of all places. As I listened with them to my brother talk about an ANT, I gazed down, and unbelievably saw an ANT CRAWLING ON THE GROUND (Wink! Wink!). Believe it or not, this was no coincident. That little ant was a glimmer of God’s Presence there with us during that difficult time, saying, “Don’t worry. I’m here.” That gave me peace the entire night thinking that there is no way that my brother decided to speak about an ant, and I’m there playing his message, and that ant showed up as if right on cue.

On my way to that room, I opened my meditation book on my phone, asking God to hear from Him and this reminder showed up:

“Yet I am always with you.”

I want us all feeling God’s sweet Presence with us as He comforts and strengthens us during the difficult moments of life that we all have. Like my brother said, “It’s all a Divine plan. Be it joy. Be it greatness. Be it happiness. Be it anger. Be it sorrow. Be it hurt. It’s all apart of His plan.” That ant showed up right on cue to play his part and remind me and you, hopefully, that we’re not going through life alone: God is with us.

“Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

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“CAN WE COME TO SEE YOU?”

That was me to my brother, Kevin, yesterday. He replied, “Of course, Neeks!” I thought it was my mom who needed to see him, but as he started talking to her, I realized his message was for crazy lady over here. He was saying how we could be our own worst enemy. ME!!!!! I’ve been going insane beating my head with a stick, but still fall back into negative thinking. I’ll catch myself, and ten minutes later, I’m right back there AGAIN. I’ve sadly allowed a situation to steal my joy and my peace. But, God knowing everyone I need in my life, sent my brother to talk some sense into me. Even coaches need coaches. At one point, I started crying and had to go and hug him because I needed to hear that strong talk from him.

God doesn’t want us sad. He knows the experiences and people we need to get us to grow, mature and become the people He would have us to be. He also sent Kevin another message from me: “I am with you always.” It was the exact message and verse from a bracelet I purchased on a sad day to remind me that I’m not going through life alone and God is always with me. I accidentally broke it, but God had my brother to come and show me a picture on his phone with the same message.

From there, mom and I went to a restaurant to sit outside, relax and enjoy our fav Cuban breakfast. We both took some time to read from our meditation book, God’s Promises For Every Day. It was this verse that gave me my high five from God:

Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause many sins to be forgiven. – 1 Peter 4:8

That melted away all the anger and bitterness I’ve been carrying around. I want to control people and situations, and God said, Nik, your job is only to love deeply. Kk, Boss.

Can we all do that for God’s glory? Love each other deeply. Everything is between God and us, not between us and anyone else. His wisdom has led my life on a beautiful path, despite the occasional frustrations. Let’s look to Him in every moment asking, “God, what would You have me to do here?” being His representatives to a watching world.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8

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“I COME TO NICE UP THE WHOLE NATION” (REPOST)

With some vital information that we can live the best lives with God as an excellent Guide and Partner helping us in every moment:

“God wills that we should push on into His Presence and live our whole life there. This is to be known to us in conscious experience. It is more than a doctrine to be held, it is a life to be enjoyed every moment of every day.” – The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

Are you having a conscious experience of Him? Let me tell ya, I’m having constant conversations with Him and He has led my life to a beautiful place.

Yesterday evening we had a conversation about why I allowed myself to get so upset by my hubby’s comments that I’m not working hard enough. It was a reminder that I’m not genuinely dead to the world. I want to be unflinching/unshaking and calm, no matter the situation I find myself with my focus on God and what He would have me to do.

Which is what I did around 3 am this morning when the topic came up again with hubby. I calmly and respectfully stated what I felt God wanted me to explain to him. I said, “You know you hit the jackpot with Nikki, and Nikki has hit the jackpot with you.” I told him all about the yin and yang and how are differences as a couple are what make us stronger together. We see life from two different perspectives. His focus is on some important areas and my focus is on other important areas, which makes us a stronger team. We balance each other out!

I also read him an important message from my book:

“The faithfulness was a big one that day. We’re called by God to be loyal, dependable, and trustworthy, no matter what anyone else is doing.”

Letting hubby know that’s my calling from God; to always be a faithful and loyal wife to him no matter what.

And that’s the conscious experience of God I guide my life by; doing what He would have me to do. The human Nik could have gone entirely in the other direction, ‘Oh, he doesn’t appreciate me! Why do I have to always give my best to him!’ But God would have me to give my best, anyway!

And when I live my life doing what God would have me to do, things always go extremely well. Like coming home late, I met hubby waiting for me to eat a beautiful meal he had prepared for us. He actually waited for me to eat with him!

Stick with God in every moment, every example and every experience, doing what he would have you to do. That’s the vital info for today! I’m talking the best life here!

Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me. – Isaiah 30:15 (MSG)

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD