WHAT’S THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED FROM AN ENEMY?

I asked my family at our Christmas Day Brunch recently. Julie said she had learned from a girl at school who’s always very insulting to her friends to be NICE. I said I had learned that what others think and say about me is really NONE of my business. And our eleven-year-old son, Emmie, surprised the heck out of me when he said that he was his own biggest enemy when he allows his mind to think the wrong things. Say what?!? How old are you again?

I know WRONG THINKING has held me down BIG TIME!!! From the anxious, fearful, fretful, and worrisome thoughts to the sad and depressing ones where I was STARVING for the love and approval of others, I have TRULY BEEN MY OWN BIGGEST ENEMY.

“I’m thanking God for a clear mind,” I said to someone last night. Honestly, I see such an incredible difference in my life since I’ve started BEATING my head with a stick like John Joseph taught me. Whenever the fearful, anxious and worrisome thoughts come, I hit myself in the head and say, “No, no, no, my HOPE IS IN GOD!” When I feel as if I’m starving for love, that’s another HIT upside the head, ‘Girlfriend please, God’s love for you in one moment is more than what any person can give you in an entire lifetime. You’re to share God’s love, not expect it from others. Got that?’ When I want to think about hurtful things and disappointments from the past, I say, ‘Sorry, devil, you MAY NOT HAVE MY JOY TODAY!!!’ I forget about the former things, and I think about the GREAT things God has in store for my future. My entire life is a celebration with God, baby!

My thoughts are now CLEARLY FOCUSED ON GOD! I loved a wink from Him yesterday when I was thinking to tell my husband that because of security reasons I don’t think I should travel somewhere with him. I even discussed the matter with my mom, and she agreed. An hour or so later, I decided to have a quick appointment with God, and the very day I randomly opened in our meditation book, Jesus Calling, God had this to say to me:

“I AM YOUR STRENGTH AND SHEILD… My Presence watches over you continually, protecting you from both known and unknown dangers. Entrust yourself to My watch-care, which is the best security system available. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.”

‘God, are you saying I’m to go with my husband?!?’ Ok, You’re the Boss!!!’Tell me, what kind of a love is this, for God, the Creator of the universe, to speak directly to me at that moment, and let me know that He’s the One protecting me. This REALLY gives me the confidence to continue BEATING my head with a stick whenever my MIND wants to bring me down. I’m latching on to God, focused on His love, protection, peace, and favor that follows me wherever I go. Are you FOCUSED on God?

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“I’M JUST TRYING TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE”

That was me to my daughters yesterday! I turned into crazy mom to get them to clean their rooms and study. “It’s about having discipline!” is what I told them. And you don’t go far in life without discipline! The hardest thing we have to do is to conquer ourselves and be the people we know we’re capable of being. In fact, I’ve dedicated this entire year to be a more disciplined person. So far, I’m thrilled with the results! I’ve even cut out alcohol altogether. I found that it was only slowing me down. Now I wake up at 5:30 am, excited, feeling like I’m on a personal mission from God, not lazy and hung over.

Being disciplined in our THINKING is another tough one to conquer! Unnecessary thoughts will bounce back and forth all day long if we’re not careful. Today is another fasting day because I’ve noticed that these days are teaching me to focus on what’s essential and to most importantly keep my eyes fixed on God.

When the thoughts tell me to worry, to dwell on the past, to feel guilty, to be irritated by trivial matters, to be sad, I beat my mind with a stick to focus on things that are relevant to my dreams, goals, and aspirations, and my decision to celebrate everyday like a birthday, while still seeking to be the best wife, mother and person possible.

My meditation book had the best advice for me yesterday, a message from God:

“MY CHILD, there are many matters of which it is well for you to be ignorant, and consider yourself as one who is dead upon the earth and to whom the whole world is crucified. There are many things, too, which is well to pass by with a deaf ear, thinking, instead, of what is more to your peace. It is more profitable to turn away from things which displease you and leave to every man his own opinion than to take part in quarrelsome talk. If you stand well with God and look to His judgment, you will more easily bear being worsted (defeated).”

Such great advice! Sometimes we really have to pretend as if we’re ignorant and deaf. Otherwise, we waste precious time and energy fighting useless battles. That’s where this discipline comes in. Someone says or does something offensive to us, and we must DISCIPLINE ourselves to be SILENT and leave them with their own opinion. We must look to please God in every moment and what He thinks of us. Forget other people and what they think, do, or say and keep looking to GOD and seek to always please Him. Trust me, His ways are best!

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“HE’S BEEN OUR GOD WINK”

I said to my hubby, talking about a customer he had to visit early this morning. This person showed up in our life years ago and I’ve never met anyone like him – extremely humble, loyal, faithful, wise and close to God. We had a little get together at our house to celebrate Joshie’s birthday a few weeks ago and he showed up, like he always does whenever we invite him over. He has supported us tremendously and although I take lots of time writing and posting my posts, I remind my husband that this is my work for God and I have no doubt that God is behind the scenes of our life sending us faithful customers like him. God, You’re too much!

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty (Zechariah 4:6). As Pastor Joel Osteen said best, “We aren’t limited to the earth’s resources; we have unlimited spiritual resources by the Spirit of God. There are things that can’t happen by human thinking and reasoning. There are things that won’t be solved by natural power and might. But God is not limited to what we can see. When you open the door of faith in your heart, God will move through you by His Spirit. No matter what challenges or obstacles you may be facing today, know that you can live in complete victory by His Spirit!”

This customer just showed up. It wasn’t by my power or my husband’s power, it was all by God’s supernatural power. And in the short amount of time we’ve been in Nigeria, I’m amazed at all the other people who have shown up to support us. God promises that people who walk uprightly with Him shall never beg for bread.

I don’t know about you, but I’m cleaving close to God. I’m trusting His wisdom to guide me because He knows the right opportunities, the right connections, the right places to be, the decisions we need to make to get through any challenge and to live the bestest lives.

He doesn’t want to take our free will from us, so He patiently waits in the background of our lives waiting for us to invite Him in. As you seek Him, you will find Him. Tell Him you want in on what Nikki writes about. It won’t be a trouble free life, I can tell you that, but with Him holding our hands ever so tightly, there’s nothing that will come our way that we can’t handle with Him.

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“LET US USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRUST GOD MORE”

I said to my friend, Danny, last night. She lives in the Bahamas and I’m in Nigeria, but God figured out a way to connect us over a year ago and looking back from where I was when I first connected with her, to the person she has helped me to become, all I can say is, “God, I’m tremendously grateful for the hook up.” We’ve helped each other through some pretty messy stuff and every conversation has been sacred, including the one last night.

She admitted to struggling with bitterness and I reminded her that instead of becoming bitter, we can use all the disappointments and hurts to really look deep within ourselves and see in what areas we can become better. So we can take the pain from what has happened and use it for our good to become better people. Bitterness has helped to create a new me! The miserable at times, undisciplined, unfocused, insecure, worrisome, discouraged and weak Nik is becoming much more focused, hardworking, disciplined, trusting in God more and loads happier. I’m a better wife, mother and person.

But this idea of using this issue to trust God more is where I am now at with it. I feel at a certain point, when you’ve done all you can, you have to surrender things over to God. Certain situations are out of our control, but they’re not out of God’s control. Our job is to turn them over to God, committing all our needs, hopes and fears to Him, being our wisest, bravest, courageous, toughest and most loving selves. And whether God turns things around or not, is not my concern anymore, because I trust God knows what He’s doing and I’m placing my entire life into His care.

“I pray God gives you wisdom,” I said to my hubby this morning. With God’s wisdom He can tell you where the right business opportunities are for financial wealth, He can teach you how to take care of yourself for better health and He can teach you how to handle the daily trials of life by giving you spiritual knowledge. This I pray for us all as we keep our eyes fixed on God, seeking His input in every decision we make, not going by the ordinary rules, but the supernatural rules knowing all things are possible with God.

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“SOMETIMES YOU TAKE TWO OR THREE STEPS BACKWARDS”

Was my very surprising God wink yesterday! I tried downloading the latest RobCast by Rob Bell on iTunes, when for some reason it refused to download and the last episode I started listening to maybe a week or so ago kept playing instead. When these glitches happen now, I pay attention because they usually mean God is up to something. I paused and said to Him, “Ok, whatever You want me to listen to.”

When Rob said “Sometimes you take two or three steps backwards,” I freaked out and played it back again a few times because that’s exactly how I’ve been feeling lately. I go forward in a certain area and then next thing I know I feel as if I’ve moved a few steps backwards. But God had the perfect reminders for me in that podcast and when I was done listening I felt like celebrating!

He said that when this happen we just have to dust ourselves off and get back on the path and that it’s like a journey of 1,000 steps and sometimes you feel you may have taken some steps backwards, but when you look at how far you’ve come, you should celebrate all the progress you have made instead of being upset about the few backward steps. Wow! That made me so happy because I see the huge improvement in this area and there was plenty for me to celebrate. It was as if God Himself was saying to me, “Nik, hold your head high, you have come so far and you have so much to be proud of.”

I went home and had the best evening with my family. I told them we have to celebrate because God has been good to us. We started our family prayer again with my husband and my two other Emmanuels praying for us. To God be the glory! Great things He has done!

We have to be patient with ourselves and others. We may not be where we want to be and others may not be where we want them to be, but let’s celebrate the victory in how far we’ve all come. Constant and never ending improvement. I’ve surrendered this entire area over to God and in His perfect timing it’ll all work out.

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

CAN I BOAST ON THE LORD TODAY?

I attended a parent/teacher coffee morning at the kids’ school and I bragged to everyone on our well my daughters, Ember and Julie, are doing. I said, “They’re not my daughters anymore, they’re my Harvard girls!” This story began back in October of last year, when their former Principal decided to recognize the top performers in some continual assessment tests that had taken place the week before. In a very informal way, he called those students up to the stage and congratulated them. And this has started a healthy competition amongst the students like no other!

The Julie and Ember that I used to fight with to study, now want on their own to study! Late one night I walked pass Julie in the stairwell studying and she said mom, “I’m here because I need to studying and staying here is keeping me up.” At 1 am when I stayed up with them one morning, she asked, “Mom, is this what it takes to get into Harvard?” I said, “Yes, lots of studying and hard work!”

The school now also takes into account all their homework assignments when determining these top three students every couple of months or so, so I see them putting much more effort in all their work and super momma is super thrilled. Whether they get the award or not, in my eyes they’re improved tremendously and I’m happy to see my daughters learning discipline, hard work and excellence. Which we all should be addicted to!

So how does God fit into all of this? He’s my life Partner in every aspect. He’s behind the scenes and He’s coordinating everything and everyone to assist me, no matter the challenge I face. For this Principal to show up in Nigeria from the United Kingdom and for him to make this one decision that has changed the entire culture of the school has been amazing to watch. You’ve never seen kids so excited about tests and studying. The teachers are noticing an improvement in their performances and its now trending to be a top student and to study hard. Yayy!

Another Julie story in all of this is that one of the students in her class bragged that said she’s never gotten anything less than first place since third grade. My Julie said, “Mommy, by the end of this semester I plan to take that first place position from her!”

But I must say a BIG THANK YOU also to the owners of the school for building such a great place for my kids to learn and to all the teachers and staff for their hard work and dedication in helping me to raise these fantastically terrific kids.

KEEP CALM, YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

DOES LIFE HAVE YOU DEPRESSED?

Talking to a friend yesterday, I realized how much I’ve grown up over the past year or so. I was having a terrible day and I went crying to her. I said, “That sad, weak, insecure, emotional, Nikki, is gone!” I’ve replaced her with a confident, strong, stable, full of joy, steady and calm Nikki. So I totally get that life can get the best of you at times, but just how God has helped me, He can help you too.

Another friend gave me the best advice in going through that situation. She said, “Keep your focus on God.” That turned out to be the best advice ever! As I looked to God, He directed me on a moment by moment basis as to what to do. In the beginning, I got a feeling from Him in one of our alone times together to thank Him for this problem. I said, “God, how can I thank You for this?” But almost a year later I’m seeing how this whole mess was used by God to take me to a much higher level of happiness. The things I was worried about then, I’m not worried about anymore. Like I told this friend I have so much wonderful things going on in my life that I have to time to spend worried and upset. I’ve importantly learned to surrender/let go, handing over all worries to God and praying about them instead.

People will disappoint us and if we look to them for our peace and happiness, we’ll be forever disappointed. My mom asked me this week why someone seemed to be giving me the cold shoulder. I said I didn’t know why, but the Nikki that used to try and figure why people don’t like her is also gone. There are billions of people on the planet, so if some people don’t like me, I’m actually OK with that. I’m focused on running my own race, being the best person I can be and leaving others to do the same.

I thanked a friend this week for being such an inspiration to me and she said, “God is our inspiration!” Honestly, “What do we have that didn’t come from God?” In every moment God is doing like 10,000 things for us that we have no clue about. I’m learning to thank Him in every circumstance, trusting Him that even though I may not know why He’s taking me along some treacherous paths, if I stay with my focus on Him, staying on the high road, where I’m my most loving, merciful, forgiving, strongest, unflinching self, He will bring me through every difficulty better, wiser, happier and more peaceful than I was before it.

I will never stop talking about the appointments/alone times with God. As you seek Him, He will comfort you and strengthen you to handle anything with His incredible wisdom.

KEEP CALM, YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“BUT THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!”

I loved this from my friend, Lisa, who I wrote about yesterday. Honestly, I’m in Nigeria, but God had me to contact her in Florida to remind her about her appointments with Him. The first day I contacted her I wrote in an email, “Don’t know why you came to mind today!” but after reading her reaction to my post yesterday about these so important alone times with Him, I now know. As you will read, she was missing God and God confirmed He was missing her too. Here’s what she wrote:

“Nikki you just don’t know how much you confirmed what I experienced this morning! I injured my calf in March and this week was my first back working out in six weeks. Sometimes while working out I listen to my praise and worship playlist – it’s either that or old school hip hop (two totally different extremes), but I digress

However, this morning I got lost in the praise and worship and forgot I was in the gym. The spirit over took my entire being. I began shaking my head and waving my arms at how good HE has been to me while on the Stairmaster!!! I went into the sauna after my cardio – still listening to praise and worship. It struck me again and tears began to form. I realized that THIS was my personal time with God that I had been missing for the past 6 weeks and even more.

I would get so caught up in praising him that I forget I’m working out. I also use time in the sauna to meditate and ask that he order my steps for the day! I have been lacking this guidance lately and have felt like I’ve been a rut. I’m always tired no matter how much sleep I get, and last night I even started questioning if I was experiencing mild depression. BUT the devil is a liar!

For you to remind me about the book on my personal time with God yesterday, and for me to make that connection this morning – while not realizing your post was about me… All I can say is MY GOD!

Thank you for the confirmation I needed that no matter how crazy things are I MUST have time with Him each and everyday.

Continued blessings my sister ”

I don’t think I’ll ever get over how God loves each and every one of us. For Him to put it on my spirit all the way in Nigeria that something was up with Lisa and that I should contact her just blew this God maniac away yesterday.

KEEP CALM, YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“THINGS ARE CRAZY, BUT I CAN’T COMPLAIN”

This was a message from a friend, Lisa, yesterday. I met her in Starbucks years ago when they strangely told me I had to wait to get my coffee. Then the next thing I knew, Lisa showed up waiting in line behind me. This was definitely one of those God planned meetings. She wanted the exact drink I wanted and as I offered to pay for hers she said, “I wanted to pay for you.” I paid for hers and she then offered to pay for the person behind her!

But this is not a post about kindness today. When I saw Lisa again in Starbucks she complained that her life was hectic and she told me about some other personal issues going on with her. I asked her if I could get her a copy of my meditation book, Jesus Calling, and I rushed to the book section of Target to get a copy for her and I encouraged her to have appointments/alone times with God.

Yesterday I started thinking about her and I sent her an email to say hi. Apparently she’d forgotten all about that book! But no love lost, my Lisa! I get it that life can be so full that we get so distracted from the most important thing – a relationship with God. I plead with you, my peeps, don’t miss out on the most important conversation with your Creator and Father.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

God’s plans for our lives are real good! But how do we tap into those plans if we let TV, the internet and busy schedules distract us from discussing them with Him?

You’ve heard all my stories of how God has changed every aspect of my life through my appointments with Him. Everything seems to just get better and better every day with Him. The lessons He’s teaching me are off the chain like how to be a better wife, mother and person. I wake up excited every day to see what He has in store for me. And even the bad days turn out to be good days because there are always lots of lessons in them to take me to higher and higher levels of peace, joy and happiness.

I have several meditation books that I usually read and just yesterday alone, I picked up two important lessons in my alone time with Him– being more merciful and laughing more.

Don’t miss out, take some time every day to seek God and as you seek Him you’ll find Him and I promise you, your life will never be the same again.

KEEP CALM, YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD
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“WE’RE ALL IN THIS HUMAN THING TOGETHER”

I’ve been feeling a little guilty about my last post about the lady who twisted around some stuff I shared with her to cause trouble for me. Who am I to judge anyone? We’re all sinners, which means we constantly miss the mark and mess up. Today I want to encourage us to pray for each other, even the people who we feel have done us wrong, constantly forgiving them and especially ourselves when we don’t quite get it right either. These posts are about a closer walk with God and remembering Him in every moment and what He would have us to do and I feel He loves it when we’re more about going the extra mile to help each other, not hurt each other.

“Nikki So Annoying,” is what my daughter called me the other day. And I guess a lot of people would agree with her when they see my blog posts. Someone suggested I not write them EVERY DAY, but with all the evil in the world, I feel I get a chance to put some good out there, hopefully a smile on someone’s face, to remind them that they’re not carrying their burdens alone and that God is our faithful Partner and Helper on this sometimes difficult life journey.

“Life is more than selling shoes,” is a quote I love from clothing designer, Kenneth Cole. Instead of pulling one another down, let’s make God happy by pulling each other up. I believe this is the way to a closer walk with God, asking Him, “How may I partner with You in making the world a better place for everyone?”

I totally agree with Mother Teresa who said:

“And today God keeps on loving the world. He keeps on sending you and me to prove that He loves the world, that He still has that compassion for the world. It is we who have to be His love, His compassion in the world today.”

In every moment, every example and in every experience, can we be God’s representatives and instead of judging let’s go overboard with spreading His LOVE in the world?

Don’t underestimate the role you play on this planet. Without you, the world would not exist in the exact way it does.
— Nick Susi

“WE’RE ALL IN THIS HUMAN THING TOGETHER”

KEEP CALM, YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD