“THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD” (REPOST)

That was me to my two sons this morning, forcing them to have an appointment with God with me. We read how God asks us to wear love and faithfulness around our necks. And in a short while, I’ll be leaving to take my daughters and my mom out to a church close to our home where my Julie has been harassing me to take her. Sweet!

How’s your relationship with God going? This picture is of me yesterday going for a run with Him. It was a Thank You run, and I came back home feeling like God’s most special girl thinking of all He does for me, even down to the running shoes that I love so much. I especially thought of how He takes ALL my sadness and turns it into such joy. Being sad is like a wakeup call for me to reflect on what’s going wrong in my life and look at it from God’s perspective.

Like lately, the transition from Nigeria to Florida was getting me a little bit sad, but when I had a conversation with God about it, I felt BLESSED. It’s a BIG opportunity for our family in so many ways. I went from being discouraged to being totally inspired to make the most out of this experience. WE CAME TO WIN WITH GOD!

I’m telling you, anything that gets me a little depressed is a chance to run to God and see what He has to say about it. One day He asked, “Am I not your greatest friend?” The world is filled with disappointments and frustrations, but when I focus on God and His blessings, I’m SUPER happy. Even in the biggest trials, we can stay POSITIVE knowing God is for us, and there is nothing we can’t handle with Him helping us to fight our battles – NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD. Our job is to pay attention to His communications and allow Him to direct us one step at a time. God is an expert in EVERYTHING!

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“WHY ARE YOU SMILING?”

My daughter, Ember, just caught me enjoying an appointment with God. I was thinking about my Thank You Run in the rain this morning and all the things I’m feeling so grateful for. And, of course, I’m giving all the glory to God for His help in EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE.

My hubby had just called from Nigeria, and he was a big part of my Thank You today. Having such a loyal and faithful husband for almost eighteen years, putting up with this “crazy” wife has been a HUGE blessing from God. His fidelity to the kids and me is something I cherish, and even when I’m tempted to get upset at him for ANYTHING, I just forgive and IMMEDIATELY let go – NOBODY’S PERFECT. Thanks for sticking with us, Pops! May I be an even better wife to you! Ride or die chick for life! Amen!

I also feel so grateful to Coach Bennet and the Nike Running Club app. I could leave out for a run feeling so depressed, burdened and overwhelmed, and I come back, like today, feeling super confident, grateful, and happy that I could take on whatever comes my way. Today, he reminded me that I’m capable of more. I’m still fighting with myself to leave my lazy, comfort zone where I continuously procrastinate and not give my best and that was just the reminder I needed to leave my new best friend – Netflix – and to be about important work for God. BTW, you’re capable of more too!

That work is to bring you this great news that God is intimately involved in every moment of our lives. This was the message from my meditation book today:

“My child, outside and inside, let everything about you speak of Me (God), give Me, make Me understood among the ignorant, the baffled, the hungry, the fearful, and the suffering ones. Tell them that I am there for every state of soul. Tell them to come to Me and I’ll never let them go. A God who loves… Just think of it.” – He and I

God is the foundation of my gratitude. I’ve gladly accepted His invitation. I feel so loved by Him. No matter the challenge, I know He’s with me, and I follow His guidance through my spirit as to what He would have me to do, step by step and one day at a time. Will you accept His invitation? This life is too difficult to do on our own. God, may we all enjoy an even CLOSER walk with You. Amen.

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“GOD ARRANGED ALL OF THIS FOR US”

That was me to my mom today. She was thanking me because she’s so enjoying her time with the girls and me in Florida. And honestly, I can’t stop thanking her for joining us. I truly feel blessed to have my 87-year-old mom with us happy, healthy and strong. The girls are calling me Mabel Junior after her, and I take it as a HUGE compliment. She is the reason why I’m here giving so much to them because she has given so much to me. I’m, blessed! God, thanks for arranging this special time for us and for giving me the best momma in the world!

HERE’S THE DEAL:

I see EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE all perfectly coordinated by God Himself. Down to every moment. Like this morning, going out for my run, I stopped to tell a neighbor how much I love her new driveway. I thought in my mind to say, ‘I’m jealous,’ but because she went on telling me about how it’s difficult to maintain, I didn’t get a chance to say it. But, as I continued my run from there, the first shuffled song to play was ‘Issues’ where the first words were “I’m jealous.” Wink! Wink!

Out of a library of over 800 songs, for this song to randomly play less than 30 seconds after my conversation with her with those words, was all God letting me know that He knows every thought I think, every conversation I have before I even have them and that He is intimately arranging ALL THE DETAILS OF MY LIFE. I BELIEVE THIS!!! Do you?

Even yesterday, we had to put up shutters at our house because of a hurricane that’s headed our way, and God found a way to let me know He was also there with us. There was one particular shutter that refused to align with the other ones. So, I thought to look for another one with the same size. I got a measuring tape and got a length of 117 inches from the top hole in it to the bottom one. I’ve written so many times how whenever I see 11 and 7 show up together, its my wink from God that His invisible Presence is with me. As this powerful and destructive storm approaches our home, God found a way to say, Nik, I’m with you.

This was no coincident that this ONE shutter gave us such a hard time with that measurement out of all the other shutters. All perfectly arranged by God to give me the confidence and peace that He is in the midst of ALL my storms to help and guide us safely through. This gave me such peace and joy yesterday KNOWING HE IS WITHME. Today, we woke up with great news that the hurricane is headed away from us and hopefully away from any landfall.

I’m sharing my crazy stories in hopes that you too will begin paying attention to His invisible Presence in your life. God is our greatest friend, we just have to learn His voice and His sweet ways of communicating with us.

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That was a question from my nephew, Duro. I responded, “I am! I want the world to experience this closeness to God that I’m experiencing!” These so-called “coincidences” that I call my God winks, are when things line up a little bit too perfect to just be ordinary happenings – I say they are perfectly orchestrated by God Himself.

Like the next day, this showed up in my appointment with God:

“Sometimes I (God) communicate with you in grand, unmistakable ways – “coincidences” that are clearly the work of My hands. At other times I display My unseen Presence in subtle ways. These are often so personal to you that others wouldn’t even notice them. Yet these subtle signs can be a source of deep, intimate joy. The more attentive you are, the more you can find Me in the details of your day. So try to stay alert—be on the lookout for Me!” – Jesus Always

And that grand, unmistakable way showed up for me in the form of a huge, Olympic quality and size running track that showed up at my daughters’ new school. Julie, my younger daughter, and I love running. We love listening to Coach Bennet and the Nike running club app crew and all the inspirational stories that have inspired us to not just be better runners but to be better people after each run. I kept saying to her that I wanted her to join a running club if there was one at this new school because I think runners are cool people to hang around. I said it sooooooooo many times to her.

So, when I got to the school for open house/parent evening and saw this beautiful running track, I knew this was God all the way. He not only grants me the desires of my heart, He exceeds my expectations. There me and Julie were in Nigeria running up and dwn the stairs in our house because we loved running so much and for us to show up in Florida to this school with this professional standard running track just blew me away. This was a very personal God wink at me letting me know we were exactly where He wanted us. No coincident!

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“DO NOT FEAR, I WILL HELP YOU”

That’s God’s constant message to me. I feel His loving and helping Presence always with me in every aspect of my life. Like in the last post I wrote:

“This astounding relationship gives me the peace and joy to wake up every day withGodfidence knowing HE IS ON MY SIDE.”

Fast forward to my very next appointment with God, I continued reading from where I had last left off in my meditation book, Jesus Always, to this:

“Remember that you are My beloved. I AM ON YOUR SIDE, and I want what is best for you.”

And not only did He confirm that He is on my side through this book, written as if He is speaking directly to me, but that day was also miraculous. I had invited a potential management candidate to spend the day at work with me before making a final decision. He sent a message saying it would be a one-day miracle if he sold a car. Can you believe as soon as we opened, some customers came and bought a car from him later on? They told me on the test drive that they really liked his spirit, that he wasn’t aggressive, but very professional in the way he spoke to them.

This is God in action, helping me. He always sends the people I need when I need them. After placing an ad for someone, within minutes, he called. I remember having conversations with God about what to say in the ad and where to post the position, and this gentleman showed up the next day, and I immediately got good vibes from him.

The customers who showed up were also God’s way of saying, ‘Nik, I’m on your side.’ They were the nicest people ever. They told us so many God stories, and there was no doubt that God sent them our way for that miracle. Like I always say, we’re going by God’s economy, not the world’s.

“The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” Amen!

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”

Are you allowing God to be the guide of your life in every moment? Start seeking Him and listening. He has the best plans for us. Don’t miss out!

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GOD, PLEASE SAVE ME FROM ME!!!

Let me tell ya, WE NEED HIM! This life is no joke! Last night, He made me super happy reading a book I got the feeling from Him to borrow from a library. Remarkably, a story there spoke exactly to a challenge I have going on at the moment. I IMMEDIATELY feltGod speaking to me as to what He would have me to do. I took it as no coincident that my very situation showed up in some random book from a library I just happened to drive by looking for the nearest Starbucks. It was another one of His sweet God winks letting me know His Presence is with me no matter the troublesome situations that come my way. He’s very cool like that!

Today, instead of feeling overwhelmed and overburdened, I’m confident, light and happy – God is on the case! I’ve decided to have some fun with it, as I allow God to be my Control Tower to direct every move I make in regards to it. I’ve been through many rough and tough situations with Him before, and I know that there is NOTHING that He and I can’t handle together. I’m going to use this situation as part of my continuous growth and enfoldment, allowing God to stretch me and mold me into a better AND MORE COURAGEOUS person – I like me better when I’m with Him!

This astounding relationship gives me the peace, and joy to wake up every day withGodfidence knowing He is on my side. I have access to God and His infinite support and wisdom. My biggest battle, though, is tackling all the negative thoughts of self-doubt, procrastination, pessimism, past regrets and failures, worries of the future, disappointments and hurts. GOD, PLEASE SAVE ME FROM ME!!! I just continually remind myself that no matter how many times I fall, I can get back up and keep going with God as my FAITHFUL BACK-UP. AMEN!

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ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE, OUR GOD IS THERE!!!

That’s what I’m talking about! I can be in Nigeria feeling His intimate Presence, and a day later, I could feel His sweet Presence following me all the way to the U.S.! God is great! I still can’t get over my God wink of yesterday when I stopped in the middle of my running to type the words “TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE,” and a couple of hours later, randomly opening a meditation book on a desk at work, and read a message from Him saying, “…bring those captive thoughts into My Presence…” Let me tell you, today I went out with new pep in my step: MY GOD HAS MY BACK WHEREVER I GO!

So, that’s the Godfidence I want us all having. Knowing that there is never a moment when God’s Presence is not with us. He is our Teacher, Protector, Strategist, Planner, Father, Counselour and Friend, and HE IS ALWAYS WITH US. We can go to Him anytime and anywhere to seek His guidance and to rest on His chest when we need a little time out from the world. He’s the GREATEST FRIEND EVER!

I want God to be our Control Tower with us continually going to Him for direction on everything. I loved a wink from Snoop Dogg today in regards to a lesson God has been teaching me. He spoke about how he and Suge Knight reconciled their relationship, and he was then asked if Suge had apologized. He said something like, he didn’t need to, but by the way their meeting and subsequent telephone conversation went, he knew that that was his (Suge’s) way of apologizing. And just like that, they were cool again.

The lesson from God has been that for me as well. Not everything has to be said. If someone did something I may not have liked, it’s no reason to confront them and expect an apology. I can let that thing go and politely move on, lovingly and forgivingly. I’m becoming an expert in this professional ignorer business – life is too short to be stressing things that are not important in the big picture of our lives. Amen! I can lovingly forgive everyone remembering I do it all for God. He’s the Boss and First Love of my life.

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“I CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD!!!”

That was me to my momma this morning! I had just returned from an interval run withmy 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 withyou 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 Godcan 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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That was my sweet sister calling to check up on me this morning. I had to hold back tears saying the transition from Nigeria to Florida has been difficult, but I’m being patient with myself as I adjust to my new norm. And just like always when I’m down, God showed up, saying, “Nik, cheer up. You know I don’t like it when you’re sad!”
 
Thirty minutes after the conversation with my sister, I debated between going for my exercise run first, or an appointment with God. I picked the time alone with God. In my spirit (gut), I felt a nudge to read a devotional magazine, out of all the other spiritual books I have arranged in a walk-in closet (my God space!). As I went from page to page, I finally landed on an article that was of interest, and unbelievably these words jumped out at me:
 
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
 
Woohoo! Just the word I needed from Him as if He was saying, ‘Nik, I know this is difficult right now, but trust Me, the joy is on the way!’ Heehaw!
 
I left for my run happy, thinking of all the great plans I KNOW God has in store for us (That’s what you call FAITH, trusting God has good things in store for those who love Him, even as you endure difficult seasons!) We can’t see what’s ahead, but God can. The Bible says, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. As we follow Him step by step, He guides us on the path of His choosing where He exceeds our expectations. I have no doubt that I am exactly where God wants me to be. “I have faith that the very best is unfolding in my life.” Amen!
 
HERE’S THE DEAL: There is a world beyond what we can see and hear. It’s the spiritual realm where God is working on our behalf setting up the right people for us to meet, the perfect opportunities for us to succeed and live happy and peaceful lives, helping us with our challenges, arranging books for us to read to hear from Him (like He did today for me) and on and on I can go. Our job is to learn His voice and follow Him. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Don’t miss out on the best life with God! Let’s say this prayer together: God, I want a closer walk with You. Amen.
 
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“HE SAID MEET ME IN MIAMI”

God, that is! He sure has His way of communicating with us, and this message was from the song, ‘At The Club’ one morning while I was running in Nigeria. Ad let me tell ya, now that I’m in Miami, HE HASN’T DISAPPOINTED ME WITH HIS INTIMATE AND LOVING PRESENCE. Not only am I getting these constant God winks that pop up all over the place, I’m especially paying attention to all His AMAZINGNESS. I’m back asking, ‘God, what have I done to deserve such kindness from You?’

But in a conversation with my mom, who came from the Bahamas to hang out with us (another blessing), she told me about someone who had a difficult time dealing with shame. I love a Bible verse that says,

“as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions (wrongdoings, faults) from us.” – Psalm 103:12

Recently, when someone reminded me of some mistakes I’ve made in the past, I responded, “I learned crucial life lessons from those failures. They’ve made me better and wiser.” I’ve simply written them off as life experiences I needed in the making of who I am today. “Be proud of who you are, and not ashamed of how someone else sees you.”

We get experienced in life from having experiences. We WON’T always get everything right. No one does. But we can all hold our heads high despite our screw-ups and humiliations KNOWING we are unconditionally loved and accepted by the Creator of the entire universe (SMILE). When those thoughts of condemnation come, we can beat our heads with a stick and think positive thoughts of faith and hope in anticipation of a successful future. And we can commit to working on our faults.

That’s why we can wake up every day happy, focused on God’s love, not the world’s disapproval and judgment. Forget shame and guilt! Today I ran 5 miles with Him getting my Godfidence up listening to my Coach Bennet from the Nike Run Club. His advice today is for us to have the courage to keep beginning again and getting back on the starting line. So, no matter where your starting line is right now, draw an imaginary line in the sand, get back up, and know that God is with you, and that He loves and accepts you exactly as you are right at this moment no matter what has happened in the past. Kk? HE CAN HELP US GET THROUGH ANYTHING!!! Heads held high my super peeps!

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