GOD ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE FINDING NEW WAYS TO MAKE ME HAPPY

Don’t ask me how He does what He does, but it seems that every time I go through my little hurts and disappointments, I come back a happier, stronger, peaceful, going the extra mile in love, mercy and kindness version of myself – I will rise 1,000 times, baby!

So, when my husband complained that he needed a vital part to complete a job, super wife stepped up to get it for him. Unable to find it by myself, I asked a staff to stop everything he was doing and look for it for me. I kept calling him “Have you found it? Have you found it? Let’s try this place.” I can get pretty annoying at times! LOL! While he did that, I needed to go on another errand for hubby/boss. As I’m driving there, the exact vehicle type that we needed that part for cut right in front of me. I asked God, smiling with Him, ‘Is this a sign from You saying that you’re helping me with this issue?’ And unbelievably less than five minutes, I got a call, “Nikki, I’ve found it!” The person described it as something just telling them, ‘Call this place!’ He called, and they had it and can deliver it to us today!

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. God is working in the spiritual realm on our behalf! Wink! Wink! See how HE located that crucial part for me and whispered to my staff as to where to find it? I know you guys must think I’m crazy, but this is the God I’ve come to know and love. He is concerned about anything I’m worried about. That vehicle cutting in front of me was the exact make, model, trim, and color as the one I needed that part for. It was no coincident, it was God revealing His invisible Presence in every detail of my life as if saying once again, ‘Nik, I got you!’

And God, I got You, too! It’s almost 3 am as I type this. He has asked me to share with you all the love I’ve been experiencing from Him. He wants to share this good loving with you, too! He wants our lives to be uninterruptibly His. With every thought we think, every decision we make coming from a place of including Him in on it. That’s where I find my joy, peace, and strength in knowing that I’m not going through life alone, that God Himself is with me and is intimately familiar with ALL my ways. “Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.” – Proverbs 3:6

Unfortunately, the hurts and disappointments aren’t going anywhere (sorry!), but the love you receive from God makes up for the losses. You’re somehow (by His strength within you) able to shake them off, keep your eyes fixed on Him (and not this broken world!), being the person He would have you to be:

“But the Spirit (God’s) produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23

Again, don’t ask me how God does what He does, I’m only sharing my experiences with Him. Don’t limit happy, say, ‘God, PLEASE, I want a closer walk with You! Amen!”

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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

That’s certainly my testimony! From the almost alcoholic, overweight, sad, anxious, unforgiving, frustrated, low self esteem mad lady, God has helped and guided me to become this happy, grateful, loving, forgiving, fearless individual who LOVES her life. No alcohol needed, and I’ve been able to keep off the over 50 lbs (22 Kgs) that I’ve lost. And if He can do it for me, I promise, He can do it for you, too!

I thanked a friend yesterday for being such a shiny, positive example, she said, “It’s your appointments with God that have helped you.” It was the alone times with Him PLUS her real-life example that have influenced many of my decisions AND LITLLE BY LITTLE MOLDED ME into a joyous and peaceful human. “God sent me to you for training,” I said, and not one moment around her has been wasted. I am the mother, wife and person I am through years of watching her in action and listening to God. Now my job from God is to pass on what I’ve learned to you guys.

In fact, God sent me packing all the way to Nigeria from the US just to be around her and learn from her. I felt Him nudge me in my spirt to call her one day over nine years ago. This is after saying to my husband so many times that I didn’t want to have any friends there. So, I’ll never forget that day that God gave me the courage and push to call her (He’s quite pushy sometimes!). And the rest is history! We ended up having standing dates with each other and the kids on a weekly basis. “I will make you wise and show you where to go.” To become wise, hang with the wise! Wink! Wink!

Notice how I paid attention to that nudging from God to call her even though I had made up my mind against having close friends. God knows best, let me tell ya! That’s where I want us all, though, paying attention to where God is guiding our lives, not where we want to go. He knows the people we need, where we need to go (even to Nigeria if necessary!), and incredibly what we need to do and say in every single moment: “If you go the wrong way—to the right or to the left—you will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the right way. You should go this way.”

I loved a wink (smile) from Him on Sunday. I had just finished telling someone at the church how when I see the numbers 7 and 11 together, it’s God reminding me that His invisible Presence is with me. Some minutes later, I had to leave the service and go outside to take a call from my husband. Exactly where I stood speaking to him, I looked at the car in front of me where the numbers 7 and 11 were together on the license plate – I’m always with you, Nik. I smiled back with Him as I calmly let hubby vent something that was on his mind, then I respectfully responded knowing that God was right there with me at that moment. Afterward, I politely asked hubs, “Can I go back into church now?” LOL! PLEASE DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BEST LIFE CLOSE TO GOD. Tell Him you need and want His Presence and guidance in every moment!!!

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“GOD ARRANGED ALL THIS FOR US”

That was me to my daughters this morning as they drove to school. I had called Ember to wish her good luck on her first official soccer game. And, of course, I asked them for us to have an appointment with God together. “The greatest impression a father (or mama) can leave on his child is the message of his living faith, unwavering hope, and steady trust in God that will be engraved on their heart forever.”

Let me tell ya, these daughters are just blowing me away! I opened my computer yesterday to see where Ember had registered for her first college class. YAYY!!! The bill of $1,119 was fully paid by scholarship. Another $1,119 was also paid for Julie’s first course, as well. Telling my sister about it, how the girls are starting college from high school, she was amazed and asked, “How did you find out about all of this?” And all I could say was, “God!”

Honestly, the girls and I have seen first hand God in action. He picked the school, He picked our house 15 years ago that’s close to both their school and the college. He picked the car Ember is driving. We know this because when I went to set up my phone in the car, it said “Amber’s phone.” Amber was the last owner of the car and I took it as a huge God wink, that God selected that car for her because that lined up just too perfectly with almost her name to be an ordinary coincident. After we debated for such a long time as to what car would be right for her. This was His way of showing that this vehicle was His pick!

This is the love of God I’ve gotten to know and experience:
College books: $358 paid by scholarship
College courses: $2,238 paid by scholarship
Hardworking, smart daughters who are not afraid to take on college-level work while still in high school: PRICELESS

God, I will sing of Your love FOREVER! I’m with You, I’m with You, I’m with You! I accept You as my Life Partner in every moment. Amen. May I always follow Your will for my life being the best mom, wife, and person possible, ALL FOR YOUR GLORY.

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I FIGURED OUT THE MEANING OF THAT “AWFUL” DREAM

Like some weeks ago, I dreamt that my sons had a woman in the house with them like a mother figure. Of course, the crazy lady here thought that it meant my husband (who is in Nigeria with my sons while I’m in the US with my daughters) had replaced me with another wife. The horror! I said, ‘God, I rebuke that dream!’ LOL!

But God finally helped me figure out the real meaning. My son, Emmie, called me last week and I overheard our niece, Ike, in the background lovingly correcting my son Joshie, like he hadn’t done his homework properly or something. Just like a mother. Then talking to her mom on Saturday, thanking her for raising such a fantastic daughter, she said something like, “I told her this is practice for her to be a parent.” Then it clicked. I got the meaning of the dream – it was Ike I had dreamt about – she was the mother figure in our home.

And how she showed up so perfectly to help us, was all arranged by God Himself. Let me tell ya, your girl here has been going through a low-key depression. I would just start crying for any little thing, feeling sad and depressed over leaving half of my family halfway across the world. But that dream was God telling me that, like usual, He got me! Whatever I’m concerned about is a concern for God. He knew it was difficult for me leaving the boys, and out of the blue, Ike’s job transferred her to the city where we live in Nigeria. And she has been such a blessing. When I thank her, she says, ‘No, Aunty, I’m the one who should be thanking you.’ God turns my sadness into joy.

See how the interpretation of that dream had me thinking all negative? It’s the same way with life – it is all about perspective and how we see things. That’s another reason why I love my relationship with God. He changes my outlook on everything. Instead of being worried, fearful, frustrated, feeling guilty, stressed, unkind, anxious, sad, depressed, jealous, angry, annoyed and discouraged, I can keep my eyes fixed on God where I’m hopeful, filled with His love and approval of me, happy, grateful, enjoying every day as a gift from Him, optimistic, filled with faith and trust, working on constant and neverending improvement (nobody’s perfect!). Me and God are the majority. There is nothing too BIG for me and Him to handle together. Repeat this Psalm with me:

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” – Psalm 23:4-6

Amen!

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“THAT WAS AN AWFUL YEAR FOR US”

Was me to someone the other night who doesn’t understand why so many things seem to be going wrong with them. I told them about a terrible year we had some time ago and in looking back on it, it was great for us. We came through it with EXTREME FAITH in God because He showed up, and He showed off, like, “Who’s messing with my people?!?’ Let me tell ya, it was beautiful watching God in action. From the people showing up to help us, His wisdom, solutions, and guidance were all totally on point. My attitude now is, “If my God is with me, whom then shall I fear.” All the forces of evil in the world can’t touch me UNLESS God gave them the power to do so KNOWING that at the end, like this terrible year, it would be good for me.

So, all the trouble you may be going through right now, KNOW its from the hands of a loving Father who is concerned about your personal happiness. He corrects us. Ask Him to reveal the lessons He would have you to learn. That awful year led us to make lots of changes, and those adjustments have been excellent for us. God is always taking us to new, higher levels of living with Him – our own personal Promised Lands.

I loved what He said to me this morning in my appointment with Him:

“When you try to speak to Me of the past, I’ll place My hand over your mouth and you will hear words of tenderness and mercy that will melt your heart. You will thirst for a new life and be ready to run in search of it.”

And that’s where I felt He is calling us to be with others as well. To overlook 10,000 of their faults because He overlooks 20,000 of ours. Nobody’s perfect. I want us just showing up every day being the loving, genuine, kind, forgiving, and excellent people God Himself will have us to be, giving everyone mercy and grace the way God does for us.

The girls and I are off to church! They are starting a youth ministry to stream live the service on Facebook. Go, super daughters!!! I tell them how God has been so good to them that I want them asking God, “What can I render to you for your kindness to me?” Let’s all be God’s superheroes.

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CAN I JUST BRAG ABOUT GOD TODAY?

About eleven years ago, I said a prayer, ‘God, I want a closer walk with You.’ He answered. I feel His intimate closeness in every aspect of my life. And it is so beautiful.

Like yesterday, I was feeling down for no real concrete reason. A little anxiety about the future, mixed with feeling overwhelmed by the present. I finally decided to sit down and have some quiet time with God. Just the day before, I had captioned my blog’s pic with these words, “Repeat after me: God got me.” I got a feeling from Him to read my own book for this quiet time with Him. And in this book that was published two years ago, look what astonishingly showed up:

“God seems always to be saying to me, Nik, don’t worry, I got you! Wink! Wink!

I had a nice laugh with Him. Wow! God is pretty funny! This life is like a rollercoaster, some days we’re up, and the other days life can get the best of us. No joke! But that’s where God comes sweetly in, as He says this to all of us: Don’t worry, I got you! I’m just the God geek over here who pays attention!

And if that wasn’t enough, as I headed to work, a van cuts in front of me with a plate number beginning HUG. I knew right away it was God orchestrating this, giving me one of His hugs. Once you know God’s personality, you’ll begin to pick up on glimpses of His Presence. And I was right. Some minutes later, at work and needing to hear from Him AGAIN (No shame in my game) the very next post in my book said this:

“When I feel weak, tired or out of sorts, You’re right THERE TO PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME (HUG!), to comfort me and tell me that everything is going to be okay. You reach out and soothe my ruffled nerves, melt away my worries and fears and blow away the confusion that seeks to surround me.”

Not only did it describe exactly how I was feeling, it was God confirming that was a HUG from Him when I saw that van. Then coming home very late and tired, my daughter had left a bag on the kitchen counter, which I had never seen before, saying, “FREE HUGS.” Another wink from Him!

To be honest, sometimes I wonder if I’m crazy in thinking that these are really glimpses of God. Like, why would the Creator of the entire universe care so much about me. But at around 3 am this morning, unable to sleep due to a bad stomach ache, I decided to hang out with God, and this message from Him showed up in one of my meditation books:

“I’ll be there, though unseen, and you will feel the sweetness of my Presence.” – He and I

God, I feel it!!! And my prayer is that you too begin to notice Him in your life. That’s my assignment from Him, to tell you about His great love for you (yes, you!). No matter where you are right now, even if at nothing, say this prayer with me: God, I rededicate my life and my family to You. Amen. Trust me, He doesn’t disappoint! Wink! Wink!

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“ARISE, MY DARLING, MY BEAUTIFUL ONE, COME WITH ME” (Song of Songs 2:10, NIV)

That’s our great invitation from God, to live these extraordinary lives with Him as our Guide, Partner, Helper, Counselor, Friend, Teacher, Provider, and Father. And absolutely everyone is invited to the party! No matter how badly you think you’ve made a mess of things, God wants you close to Him. In fact, He has used all my weaknesses and wounds to show all of us a better way of living and thinking.

I love how He doesn’t force us to come; it’s like He patiently waits in the background for us to remember Him. And unfortunately, that seems to be mostly when we get ourselves in trouble and ask Him to help us get out. Then once we’re out, we place Him in the background again until the next big problem comes up.

This year, I want you to accept His invitation to follow Him in every aspect of your life with Him taking the lead and not the background role. Like a great friend said to me, “I want to remember God every moment.” This is where I want us, remembering God every second and collaborating with Him as to what He would have us to do, where He would have us to go, and even what to say.

We’re not going by the ordinary rules of man, and some things He ask will take supernatural strength—like being mentally tough (fearless, focused, determined and refusing to worry), while also being loving and forgiving towards someone you want to choke.

But trust me, when you’re able to let go and surrender everything to God, handing over all disappointments and outcomes to Him, you begin to experience this miraculous life where He not only repays you for any wrongs, He helps you with any problem or challenge you may have and even comforts you when you’re hurt.

Quiet confidence will be your strength when you leave situations and circumstances in His hands. I’m talking unthinkable lives already planned for us, which include fabulous adventures, the best people, and off-the-chart levels of wisdom, peace, happiness, and joy.

Start asking, God, what would You have me do here? This takes calming down, slowing down, and listening to His quiet whispers in your spirit. When you do, a whole new world awaits you.

Dear God, thank You for Your love and constant guidance. Pardon our sins and give us the courage to live the lives You have planned for us. Amen.

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“GOD, WHY ME?”

That was from someone who woke up to a troublesome situation today. I sent them a pic of what God had said to me in my early morning appointment with Him: “You can believe, can’t you, that your God used this trial as a new way of getting your attention so that you would take a firmer grip on Him?” – He and I

This was my high five from Him after I went through my own little something something last week. God, You definitely got my attention!!! LOL! I can laugh at it now, but when I was going through it, it was not funny. And that’s how I can look back at all the so-called “bad” stuff that has happened. I see they were from the hands of a loving God who knows what is best for me (and you!). They’ve all taught me some crucial lessons that God Himself would have me to learn, especially as opportunities to learn to trust Him more.

Another one recently was dealing with my mind going into this repetitive negative thinking mode all the time. Like running around the same track 1,000 times and going nowhere. Stuck mode. But when this thing happened last week, it was like a huge wake-up call – Nik, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE? Stop running around this same darn track over and over again, going nowhere with the same nonsense thinking.

This week, I’m out of the nonending loop in my head, and I’m focused on important dreams and goals. I said to God today, “Send me!!! Let me be your voice in the world to encourage and bring people closer to You.” A total 360 from negative to positive. God, thank You!

“I am with you always,” are the words printed on a bracelet I purchased on a sad afternoon last week. I can’t express to you guys how this little piece of jewelry around my wrist has brought me such joy. No matter what I’m going through, it’s a reminder of my power (God’s omnipotence within me.) He is my strength, joy, wisdom, calmness, and peace in every moment. I’m strong with Him as my Protector and Guide. And most importantly, He is all the love I need — no more starving for a little bit of love from others. Your girl is good! I’m now about sharing God’s overflowing love with everyone around me.

Repeat after me: God got me. And let’s use every trial as opportunities to trust Him more. Amen.

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“HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU?”

That was me to my hubby today. He said it’s because I’m living good. I replied, ‘Yes!! I’m enjoying driving my new Mercedes truck.’ Wink! Wink! And we had the biggest laugh about it. Then I said, “You know my love for you is not about any money. I love our life together and our family. Our family is our greatest blessing from God. I want us to be a testimony to the world of a family rolling with Him”

We may go through our stuff, but at the end of the day, we come back stronger than ever, all for God’s glory. Like He sweetly taught me through Pitbull’s song, ‘Ain’t nothing perfect, girl!’ What God has ordained, ALL THE FORCES OF EVIL cannot destroy!!!

This little conversation with my husband shows where God’s guidance and wisdom has brought me – to a very beautiful life! I can go through my lil hurts and disappointments but still come through them an even better and more committed, respectful, faithful, loyal and loving wife, mother and person. Don’t ask me how, but God has this way of changing my perspective on everything. EVERYTHING!!! And that’s why I want you getting to know and learn from Him for yourself. He and the Holy Spirit (His voice within us!) are the best teachers, let me tell ya, for this crazy world we live in. We need them!

And speaking of crazy, either I’m getting SO close to God, or I’m surely losing my mind. LOL! He’s just finding the sweetest ways to let me know He’s with me. Like yesterday, I heard a song playing on the radio. I go to Google the lyrics so I could download it, and as I’m jamming to it on the way home from work, there’s a sample of another song in the background. This is very bad (don’t do this!), but I started searching for that sampled song while still driving. I couldn’t find it, but this incredibly came up, and I knew without any doubt, it was God singing to me (and to you, too!!!) through this opera song (and you know your girl doesn’t listen to any opera!):

“No more talk of darkness
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I’m here, nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you

Let Me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I’m here, with you, beside you
To guard you and to guide you

Say you need Me with you here, beside you
Anywhere you go, let Me go too
…that’s all I ask of you” – Andrew Lloyd Webber

This is the God I’ve come to know and love: HE SINGS TO ME!!! He’s pretty talkative once you get to know Him. Will you invite His Presence into your life?

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“NIKKI, GO AND HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH GOD!!!”__

That was advice the other day from my friend, Danny, when I called her extremely angry. We’re each others’ sounding boards when it comes to this marriage thing – it aint easy! She suggested I go and randomly pick a number from my book and see what God had to say to me about the situation. But at the time, I was so upset, I didn’t want to hear any of God’s positive advice!

Fast forward to that night, right before sleeping, I said, ‘OK, God, what do You have to say to me?’ I used the scroll button at the bottom of my phone to randomly select where to read from an electronic version. I couldn’t believe it when this incredibly showed up:

“THE BEST MARRIAGE ADVICE EVER…

… Focus on God! Respond to difficulties from a calmer, kinder, respectful, patient and more loving space, allowing God to direct you with His wisdom. Rest with God while He fights on your behalf!”

I’m talking DIRECTLY to that very page and title!!! No coincident! I felt like God Himself showed up to be with me and comfort me. Out of a book of 366 blog posts, I knew this was Him, again showing me His intimate involvement in every aspect of my life. You can’t beat God’s love!!!

So, what I’ve learned is that God has to be our first love. And all of our actions should be from a place of ‘God, what would YOU have me to do here?’ Not what crazy, angry lady wants to do. What would You have me to do?

Others will continually disappoint us. That’s life! But going to God and asking for His guidance and direction has really led my life on an amazing path. Not always easy, but when I look at the BIG picture, THIS IS THE GOOD LIFE WITH GOD. Don’t miss out! Start involving Him in EVERY decision you make always seeking to do the right, excellent and most loving thing. This is how He guides us on the best paths. Wink! Wink!

Dear Lord, grant us grace to stay faithful, loyal and committed to our families no matter the challenges we face. You wipe our slates clean every day. May we do the same for our loved ones. Amen.

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