“SMILE IN YOUR SOUL WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME (GOD).”
That was my little message from Him a few minutes ago reading my meditation book. It’s actually what I’m learning to do more often, smile whenever I remember that His unseen Presence is ALWAYS with me. He has become “MY LOVE.” And I’m learning to RELAX and ENJOY every moment of my life with Him. Are you here with me ENJOYING God?
My exercise time has become “OUR” time. I usually put the music on shuffle and allow Him to be my DJ. I pick up so many messages from Him through the lyrics that “randomly” show up. I know through my spirit when He’s speaking to me. I’m telling you, He’s quite talkative once you learn His voice.
Like yesterday, I was thinking about how to resolve a situation. I came up with a solution, and I was texting a message to someone on what to do. Amazingly, in the background playing, was a song with the lyrics saying what I had just typed about sending someone to cash a check. I smiled with God. He’s always ahead of me and that solution that I came up with was no doubt DIRECTLY from Him. He has us in the palm of His hands. He knows what we need, and He has everything all arranged out for us before we even ask.
That little so-called coincident, when everything lines up a little bit too perfectly, I call my God winks. They’re my sweet reminders from Him that His invisible Presence is always with me. They give me the PEACE AND CONFIDENCE to RELAX and KNOW that whatever problems that may come up, God already knows about it. His INFINITE WISDOM can HELP US RESOLVE ANY CHALLENGE! That has certainly been my experience with Him!
This morning, when Secret Garden played, I knew the lyrics were Him singing to me:
“I wanna read your mindKnow your deepest feelingsI wanna make it right for you.”
And He wants to make it right for you, too! Start talking to Him just like how you would talk to any friend and start paying attention to what He would have you to do.
When I vented about a frustration to Him, wanting to tell someone off about it, with one glance at God I knew how to respond: LOVE, FORGIVE and IGNORE. No more fighting useless battles! And I replied, “YES, MY LOVE!”
KEEP CALM AND ENJOY GOD
THE PRAYER THAT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE:
God, I want a CLOSER walk with You. Amen.
I think I said it back in 2010 or so, and to see how God has changed me from a sad, anxious, bitter, unforgiving, fretful, overweight, starving for love, crazy lady into a happy, loving, forgiving, peaceful and fearless warrior, has been nothing short of a complete miracle. I still have some ways to go, but I’m not the Nikki who woke up so depressed that all I looked forward to was having a beer with breakfast. It wasn’t pretty!
That was until a friend told me she was giving up chocolates for lent and I decided to join her and give up drinking. IT WAS A LONG LENT, and I couldn’t wait to have a drink, but unbelievably, by the time Easter (the end of lent) came, the cravings for alcohol were all gone. God, thank You!
God also went as far as putting another great friend into my life as a part of His get Nikki sober and happy mission. I think her positive influence played a huge role along with our standing weekly appointments with each other that me and the kids looked forward to, slowly took away my sadness and the drinking.
I feel God created us humans to connect with each other. I was listening to something how so many people are addicted to painkillers and I personally believe NOT having friends and other close relationships and connections is a big reason why people are sad and look to drugs and alcohol. So, if you’re depressed, find some good friends!!!
And not to forget about my regular appointments with God! Mornings, noon and 5 pm. I would set the alarm on my phone so I didn’t miss these essential times with Him. Unbelievably, He would always find some way to let me know that He was there with me. And if you have God with you, tell me, what is there to be sad about?
Little by little, with every alone time with God, He has been transforming me to see life from HIS ALL loving perspective. I HAVE FAITH IN HIS LOVE. He even sent my son, Joshie to teach me how to love others. The way he shows in his sweet little eight-year-old way, “Mommy and Daddy, I just want to be with you.” In such a genuine way is mind blowing. He inspires me to love others from a God-inspired heart, not judging or criticizing them, just showing them God’s unconditional love. Finish.
God, I want an even closer walk with You. Amen.
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD
DON’T GET IT TWISTED, I’M BRAGGING ABOUT GOD, NOT MYSELF!
And how HE has beautifully led me to a VERY HAPPY LIFE!!! But, WE (me and God) want YOU along with us—Hey, I don’t want to be this joyful by myself! Like between God and my hubby, they have me spoilt! This morning, seeing some mangoes on our kitchen counter from yesterday, I didn’t want them; I requested fresh ones from our tree outside! Spoilt, I say! Not that I have a perfect life, either, but God has been teaching me such valuable lessons like GRATITUDE, PATIENCE, CONTENTMENT AND KEEPING MY HOPE IN HIM, that I think I can spend my entire life saying, “Thank You, God!”
So, here’s an example of how God guides me. After yesterday feeling like He was saying not to wash my hair, today it felt like He said yes I should. I thought I could quickly get it done, and get right out to work, but I ended up doing some other stuff. I then called my hubby/boss and asked if he still wanted me to come in. He then asked me if I wanted to, and I quickly responded, “Whatever MY KING wants!” He said I should come, and I came.
HERE’S THE DEAL:
RELATIONSHIPS ARE TOUGH! But with God’s and a good friend’s guidance, I’m enjoying a pretty successful marriage, if I do say so myself! The wisdom that I want you to obtain from this little story is how God has taught me HUMILITY, not arrogance and self-interest.
It was years ago, and I was having an argument with hubby that was lasting for a few days when I finally went to God and asked what HE would have me to do. It was no coincident that I opened my meditation book directly to a page saying something like even though my way is good, it would PROFIT ME MORE to FOLLOW the will of another. And I’ve ran with that advice. Years later, it’s still PROFITING ME MORE to follow my wise husband.
I consider myself hub’s Vice-President. One day I told him that I completed a task for him, he immediately corrected me and said, “You’ve completed it for yourself!” Meaning this is how he makes money to take care of us, so technically I did the work for myself.
I’m so loving our dinner every night together with our sons. Again, this was wisdom from God. I said to hubby one day, “I’m not eating until you get home.” This was after a God wink from someone who told me a story about fasting and a wife waiting until her husband came home to eat. As if God was saying, “Wink! Wink! Nik!” I PAID ATTENTION! And since then it has become our nightly routine. I wait until he’s home so that I can enjoy my one cooked meal of the day with him. When someone called last night asking him why he was home, he said, “I’m here enjoying looking at my wife’s beautiful face.” And in today’s time, I don’t take it for granted that I have a hubby who wants to spend evenings with his family. Thank You, God!
God is still talking, folks! This is only one aspect of my life where He has successfully guided me. Through my meditation books, advice from others, thoughts and impressions that come to mind, can all be ways in which He communicates. It’s up to us to learn His voice and to be OBEDIENT to what HE would have us to do in every moment! Wink! Wink! What are you waiting for? Pray and invite Him into your life! He loves getting involved!
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD
A TOAST TO GOD
Instead of throwing out some old smoothie, I asked my cook, Victoria, to place it in a glass for me. She, very surprisingly, put it in a champagne glass. It was the very one I would use to have a nightly drink with my hubby in my attempts to dumb all the UGLY thoughts I had going on. That was my way of combatting all the thinking, thinking I had going on at the time.
But, as I drank from that glass today, it was an entirely different story. Instead of the depressing, anxious, fretful thoughts, I was toasting to God, thanking Him for this beautiful life He has wonderfully guided me on. Alcohol has absolutely no place in my life anymore; God has MIRACULOUSLY turned all my sadness into JOY!!!
HERE’S THE DEAL:
In every moment, I’m learning to go to God about EVERYTHING. My mind looks like this ALL day:
God, what should I do here?
God, should I go here?
God, should I say this?
God, how do I handle this situation?
God, what would you have me to THINK here?
God? God? God?
HE LOVES WHEN WE COME TO HIM! I’ve LEARNED HIS VOICE through my individual times/appointments with Him. I know when its Him speaking to me through my feelings/nudges/impressions and thoughts that come to mind. Those nudges from Him haven’t led me wrong yet! In every aspect of my life, for guidance, I RUN TO HIM FOR HELP.
Through reading my meditation books, I’ve picked up on God’s character and the mother, wife, and person He is calling me to be. Not one moment has been wasted because He has keyed me in on such wisdom that I use when I’m back out in the world.
He doesn’t only talk through the meditation books, though, He’s quite talkative once you get to know Him. Like one Sunday, I got a nudge from Him to call one of my brothers. Before hanging up, he says to me, ‘Nik, if your husband is ever weak, YOU have to be the strong one for the family.’ Honestly, those words have stuck with me. So, if ever I’m tempted to get mad at hubs about ANYTHING, I remind myself, ‘Nik, you MUST be the STRONG one.’ I suck up whatever it is I’m upset about, and I look to God, my Guide and say, ‘Your warrior here is still standing strong.’ Nobody’s perfect! The husband that is the strength of the family when I’m weak, deserves this loyal, unflinching wife.
But I can’t get over God, giving me that nudge to call my brother with that critical message. Thanks, K! Hubby and I are celebrating 18 years together this year, and I’m thanking God for His continual GUIDANCE that got us here, BETTER AND STRONGER THAN EVER.
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD
‘GOD, HELP ME TO NOT TURN INTO THE CRAZY LADY TODAY!!!’
Let me tell ya, the mad lady wants to come out sometimes, and I must QUICKLY remind myself that I’m to be the Nikki God is calling me to be: self-controlled, disciplined, calm, mannerly, merciful, loving and respectful. BUT IT AIN’T EASY! So, for me, I’m asking Him to help me remove anything from my character that is unpleasing to Him. What can He help you remove?
This morning, on the drive to school with our kids, we listened to ‘I Wanna Know’ by Joe. I said this is my song to God asking Him:
‘I’d like to know what makes You cry
So I can be the one who always makes You smile
Tell me what I gotta do to please You
… anything You say I’ll do
Cause I only wanna make You happy
From the bottom of my heart, it’s true’
And as I do that, oh my goodness, God seems to go out of His way to make me SMILE. God’s spoilt girl over here! Like the other night, we were watching a choir from a church in Nigeria that traveled to Bethlehem to perform Christmas songs. I was so thrilled listening to the words feeling as if God was speaking directly to me. I had a complete church praise session in my living room, thanking God for turning all my mourning into such joy and making me feel so LOVED.
Right after that, I went to bed, but before sleeping, I wanted to have some alone time with God. After reading my own book all day, I decided to switch meditations books and unbelievably, out of all my books, here’s what I randomly opened to, written as if God was speaking directly to me:
“Christmas music is one of the best blessings of the season. You can sing the carols at church or in THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HOME. As you are making a joyful noise, pay close attention to the words.” – Jesus Always, Sarah Young
Believe it or not, this was God’s remarkable way of saying, ‘Nik, I saw you just now singing those Christmas songs and praising Me! I’m ALWAYS with you.’ That gives me the confidence to stand strong in a world where we never know what’s coming our way from one moment to the next; MY GOD IS WITH ME, BABY!
And He’s with ALL of us! Anything you need help removing, He’s only one call away! Just say, ‘God, I need Your help.’ In every moment, we have access to His strength, wisdom, and solutions to tackle anything. Your girl here, is learning to go to Him 5,000 times a day, if need be. And His ways are ALWAYS THE BEST. He hasn’t disappointed me yet!
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD
‘NIK, YOU’RE BECOMING QUITE LAZY THESE DAYS’
That’s the message I seem to be picking up from God. I told ya’ll, He is pretty talkative once you get to know Him! It started with my housekeeper and cook leaving us over the holidays. Let me tell ya, your girl over here was NOT HAPPY that I would have to spend the “holiday” cleaning. At one point, I asked God, ‘What did I do to deserve this?!?’ I told my hubby that if we weren’t traveling, let us at least check into a hotel. But he just wanted to be home.
But like every so-called “bad” experience, God had a reason behind my hard work! When a friend asked, “How was your holiday?” and I told him about having no house help, he amazingly said, “It was a good experience.” And honestly, those words from him hit the nail on the head. It was an excellent experience where me and my super daughters ROSE to the occasion.
Sometimes there were MOUNTAINS of dishes to wash, and we would put on some music and make it happen. And because of all the dust in Nigeria, that meant lots of mopping and dusting. But at the end of it all, we conquered it, and we were pretty proud of ourselves. Mission cleaning and cooking accomplished, baby!
Thank God my husband loves to cook, and every day the girls would take turns being his assistant. It was great bonding time. As we washed dishes, we chatted about some super important stuff. We truly bonded and are even CLOSER as a family. Thanks, God!
God, again, spoke to me through a meditation book about how we neglect the most important to less important things. I knew it was another message because I sincerely WASTE TOO MUCH TIME ON THE UNIMPORTANT.
Then, there was a comment about my website, “No new content?” I was pretty embarrassed that the last time I had updated it was like over a year ago. Shameful, Nik!
So, when Darin Olien said this on a Rich Roll podcast, I knew it was another message from God to me:
“Sorry audience. Quit f around. Quit dabbling in this stuff. You’ve been to these things. You’ve seen things. Take that knowledge and do something with it…”
He also said, “Underneath all of it, I do want people…to live a super life. Like I really do.” Like I really do, too. I want the world ROLLING WITH GOD and living a super life with Him as our Coach and Guide.
God, I got the message. I will stop being so lazy, unfocused, procrastinating, and spending too much time on the unimportant. Thanks for the wake-up call.
Are you paying attention to what God is saying to you? Don’t miss those alone times with Him. He just wants to make us better! Let’s give up ANYTHING that’s holding up back – including LAZINESS!
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD
“LET ME KNOW IF YOU GOT THE EMAIL”
That was me to a friend yesterday. I spent some time helping her out, and I was just thinking about how she has been so wonderful to me that I want to be an even better friend to her.
Then, it got me thinking about my relationship with God? ISN’T EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE IN MY LIFE A GIFT FROM HIM? Even this friend, who showed up for me out of almost 200 million Nigerians has been a HUGE blessing from God. Her positive influence has changed me, and so much of what I write about is what I’m learning from her: FAITHFULNESS, LOYALTY, KINDNESS, CALMNESS, WISDOM, INTEGRITY, GOODNESS, AND EXCELLENCE. She demonstrates them all and every time I’m around her, I leave better!
So, if I want to be a better friend to her, how can I be an even BETTER wife, mother, and person for God who supplies MY EVERY NEED AND BLESSING?
In every moment, I can be my most LOVING, FORGIVING and EXCELLENT self.
After my hubby hurt my feelings yesterday, I intentionally didn’t go to work. But I felt bad afterward because I wasn’t my most LOVING, FORGIVING and EXCELLENT self. This husband who has been another HUMONGOUS gift from God didn’t deserve that. I genuinely have nothing to complain about. Today I was forcing him to drink his awful tasting veggie smoothie because as I told him, “I don’t want to be in this world without you.” So, when he gets in his mood, I need to just ignore and overlook, professionally and kindly. Nobody’s perfect!
I learned a big lesson, though. That whenever I get angry at someone, it’s an opportunity for me to grow in grace – how quickly can I forgive? Like I always say, everything is between God and us, not between us and anyone else. All our blessings are from God, and I want our eyes fixed on HIM being OBEDIENT to what HE would have us to do in every moment.
And being obedient is really how HE guides us on the path HE has for us. And let me tell ya, God’s plans are REAL good! I look back on my life, and honestly meeting this friend was a part of God’s plan for my life. He knew I needed her! When I think back to the old Nikki before her, pretty scary. She has helped me to stay on God’s path for my life, and I’m forever grateful. Thanks, my vro (my valued treasure!)
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD
“… BUT GOD WAS WITH ME”
That’s my life’s testimony for sure! I’ll never forget sitting in my mom’s office reception one day. I was about nine years old, when a client asked, “Are you Mabel’s daughter?” He was incredibly the doctor that delivered me. “I’ll never forget you,” he said, and he went on to tell me the dramatic story of my birth. He said back in those days, they focused on saving the life of the mother first and foremost, and they just placed me to the side, really thinking I was dead. BUT GOD WAS WITH ME. The person, on the way to throw me away, noticed I still had a pulse and here I am, decades later, baby!
And looking back at my entire life, it’s been one situation after another where I can CLEARLY see that God HIMSELF has been with me.
From some of my saddest days, I would always feel Him wrapping His arms around me and comforting me. And tell me, what is there to be sad about when you have the Creator of the universe showing you such love and attention. … BUT GOD WAS WITH ME!
To my most difficult days, where I must hold on to His hands SUPER TIGHT, He shows up as if saying, ‘Who’s messing with my Nik?’ The words to say, the solutions and wisdom to tackle problems, the people to help have ALL miraculously appeared. … BUT GOD WAS WITH ME!
HERE’S THE DEAL:
He’s not just with me, He’s with ALL of us. I’m just the God maniac over here who pays attention. And that’s what I want us all doing more of this year, PAYING ATTENTION TO GOD, KEEPING OUR EYES FOCUSED ON HIM.
After exercising with my daughter, Julie, this morning, I said to her that HUMILITY has been one of the secrets to her mom’s happy life. The ability to put up with certain things, hear some things and pretend I didn’t hear them, and see some things and pretend I didn’t see them, with my EYES completed fixed on God asking what He would have me to do in difficult moments, have all worked exceptionally well for me. Fast forward to some hours later, I’m at work, and the calendar God speaks through me through quoted this scripture:
“By HUMILITY and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.” – Proverbs 22:4
This was God’s sweet way of saying, ‘Nik, I see you being humble. Great job!’ He’s pretty talkative once you get to know Him! I’m keeping my eyes on God no matter what situation comes my way, KNOWING this is the way to “riches and honor and life.” Wink! Wink!
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD
“YOU’VE ALREADY BEGAN LEAVING YOUR LEGACY”
I said to this beautiful daughter, Ember, standing next to me. She was inaugurated recently as the FIRST head girl of a school that opened for the very FIRST time on her birthday, for the very FIRST year we relocated to Nigeria. My testimony is that God built this school especially for us, and I’m thrilled with the people my kids are growing up to be.
“What are you doing? I came to do that!” Ember questioned me when she saw me washing the dishes this morning. It was her turn, but I wanted to help her out since she’s such an awesome help to me. Notice the integrity, discipline, responsibility, and excellence this daughter demonstrated? That’s the CHARACTER that’s making this momma super happy, not just from Ember, but from all our children and my hubby. That’s how we do! We’re a family ROLLING with God ALL THE WAY, being the people in the world He is calling us to be.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we’re perfect, and we may get it wrong LOTS of time, but we consistently work at being BETTER, allowing God to guide more and more of our decisions. GOD IS OUR BOSS!!! And I want us ALL making Him a priority in every moment of our lives.
And when we do that, let me tell ya, the BLESSINGS of God will chase us down. I’ll never forget meeting with some clients this year, and one of the top bosses wanted to see us. As we entered the room, she asked, “You’re from a mechanic shop?” We’re changing the image of mechanics, baby! By conducting our business from the standpoint of, “God, what would You have us to do here?” some amazing opportunities have opened for us, and we’re giving all the glory to God. We ended up getting the “lion’s share” of that contract.
Today, as we go into 2019, I want to encourage us all to be GOOD, standing out wherever we go, being an example and representative of God in the world. Let’s give our BEST in every moment, working enthusiastically as if working for God Himself. I’ll never forget a week this daughter, Ember, came to work with us and said, “I left my phone at home because I didn’t want it to distract me from my work.” And that’s the CHARACTER that helped her become the head girl.
As you work and give everything for God, TRUST ME, He’s behind the scenes of your life WORKING FOR YOU!!! (WINK! WINK!) MAKE GOD A PRIORITY! Keep asking, ‘Boss, what should I do here?’ And keep striving to be the excellent and loving people that would make Him proud of at any moment, throwing off anything that’s holding us back.
MAY GOD BLESS OUR HUSTLE. AMEN.
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD
“I’M YOUR SLAVE…”
.., I work for food, shelter, and clothing!” I said to my hubby last night! Many years ago, I felt God saying to me if my marriage was to last, I needed to end all arguments about money. So, whatever, my hubby decides, I pretty much go along with him for peace sake. And believe it or not, this decision has been working out beautifully for me. This morning hubs left out early to attend to an urgent work matter, and he returned bringing lots of seafood for the girls and me since we decided to give up chicken and meat, AGAIN. I just left him and our daughter, Julie, cooking our big Sunday brunch! FOR SURE, THIS IS THE BLESSED LIFE WITH GOD!
HERE’S THE DEAL:
God’s ways are not our ordinary human ways. But I’ve found that His ideas are always the best. His direction has guided my life on a very beautiful path. This decision to go along with hubby regarding money matters is me NOT conforming with the world but asking God what HE would have me to do. And that’s where I want ALL of us: Seeking God’s guidance in every aspect of our lives and being OBEDIENT to Him, ALTHOUGH IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY.
God KNOWS it all about everything and everyone, and He’s an expert! It just makes sense to involve Him in ALL our decisions. But He doesn’t PUSH Himself on us, though, He patiently waits in the background for us to invite Him to be a part of our lives. And once He’s in, He’s pretty talkative. In every moment, I can hear exactly what He would have me do, say and go. Mostly through my feelings, thoughts, nudges, and impressions that come to mind, I know God’s direction. Feelings of peace are what I look for as cues from Him (no peace or doubt means don’t do that!).
But taking the time to actually sit and read my meditation books is where I learn God’s character, voice, and the person He is calling me to be in the world. Or, I love hanging out on Tumblr.com and searching for “God” posts. Not a moment spent with God has been wasted. Honestly, hubby is more of a slave to me! A better husband I could not have found and I’m excited about our future together! I’m genuinely Nikki So Blessed! And I’m giving all honor, praise, and glory to God for the path He has guided my life on.
Don’t miss out! Tell God you want in on the blessed life, too, and start having those crucial ALONE TIMES with Him to help direct your life!
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD