We Roll With God

I pray you get this same feeling from this “positively gorgeous” tumblr.com blog:

“For as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

This is an incredibly beautiful verse. Here is the illustration: God speaks His Word to us. We receive it and it does something radical to our hearts, changing them in a way nothing else can. Then it returns to God in the form of modified behavior as a result of our newly changed hearts.

Now, I don’t care who you are, that’s art, right there. That is positively gorgeous.

It’s important for us to remember something, though: that change is not our own doing. It’s something God does within us. He is constantly feeding us with a love that overflows and spills out of every pore. He hands us a strength to resist temptation, and when we stumble and sin He anoints our heads with grace to forgive us.

It’s also important to remember that this is not something that happens all at once. It’s a continual process of repentance and renewal that will last for our entire earthly lives. Every day, we are a little bit better than we were the day before. Not perfect, but better.

You see, God is a wonderful artist. None of us can deny that; just look around at all of His beautiful creations. Every day is another stroke of the brush on His canvas, which is you.
You are not perfect, but you are forgiven. Don’t be discouraged. God is actively working on you. And one day, when we meet Him face to face, you will be completed, framed and glorified.
You are His masterpiece.”

KEEP CALM, YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

Said a good friend and customer to me yesterday evening. I replied, “God’s the Ultimate Magician who can make anything happen!” He and my husband were trying to persuade me to be more security conscious in Nigeria, but I’m sticking with my faith in God, He’s my security -“God may kill me, but still I will trust him.”

This friend and I always have these God conversations and I told him how God is intimately involved in all our moments and that He was right there with us right then. And this morning in my appointment with Him, God did confirm He was there with us! I was sitting outside, enjoying the morning sun and reading again from my Bible devotional of over 700 pages and I incredibly opened to the following:

“Scripture scholars tell us that Jesus came for an important mission – to proclaim the good news and make the Father known to the world. And because he did not want anything to distract Him from this primary mission, He had to dissuade people from turning Him into a MAGICIAN. His miracles were aimed at helping people to believe in the power and love of God, and not to take their eyes of the target.”

Seeing that word “magician” showing up and everything again lining up a little bit too perfect, was my God wink. I guess that’s why I’m not so concerned about my security because God is constantly reminding that His Presence goes with me wherever I go and He’s a part of every moment of my life. How sweet is that?

Here’s the deal:

Reading this has really encouraged me again with my life’s mission: To bring humanity closer to God, who loves us and is intimately involved our lives. We’re to fix our eyes on Him, not this world.

From one moment to the next, we don’t know what will come our way, but if we can pause, focus on God, He will help us with His wisdom to live the best life. That moment the night before in wanting to scream, but instead having an appointment with God, I saw things from His perspective and the crazy Nikki that wanted to make an appearance was sent away and I calmly dealt with the situation in a loving and peaceful manner, forgiving quickly and I was happier for it. God is teaching me the true definition of love which is not unmannerly!

And God’s wisdom is the best wisdom, so slow down and go to God in every decision. His ways are higher and better than our ways.

God,
Thank you for loving us so much. Amen.

WE ROLL WITH GOD

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I’m so on to God! He knows exactly the experiences we need to grow us up to become stronger, wiser, braver and bring us closer to Him. A small thing happened that got me thinking all sorts of craziness. And It was in my appointment with God yesterday that got me back to my senses. After reading Marianne Williamson’s brilliant book, ‘A Year of Miracles,’ I surrendered the entire situation to God:

“I give my life to God today.

Today I will not burden myself by thinking I need to run the universe. I needn’t control anyone or anything. I need only to show up fully with my heart and in my excellence.

I surrender everything to God, who lives within me. Every burden and decision I place in his hands. I know as I do so I will be led to divine right thought and action. The universe will arrange itself on my behalf.

How wonderful it is to relax at last and fall back into the arms of God. It is not a stiff neck but a soft heart that will guide my course of action. I will not forget to trust God today.”

It was if she wrote this specifically for me in that moment. I immediately handed that burden over to God. My sanity returned and I was happy again.

Here’s the deal:

We can truly relax with God, but we have to trust Him. So many things are not within our control to handle and we can turn those things over to God to handle for us. He’s great at that! We just need to go out every day being our excellent selves, doing our best with whatever we feel He’s asking us to do and leaving the rest with Him. “Don’t become bitter, become better.” “You shall hold your peace and God will fight for you.” “While we do this, we should not allow the weeds that prop up from time to time to overshadow the wheat.”

In Nigeria lately there are lots of bombings and even that I’m turning over to God knowing He’s our protection. The economy is not as strong as it used to be, but I’m trusting God that He’s taking care of us – we’re not going by the ordinary rules of man!

God,

Thank you for being a God who cares about us. Help us to always trust You knowing that You’re behind the scenes of our lives turning every situation to our good.

Amen.

WE ROLL WITH GOD

HEE HAW!!! THIS IS WHERE I WANT US! Constantly going to God and seeking His incredible wisdom in everything we do, everywhere we go and everything we say. The customer I wrote about recently, who I advised to include God in on his decision about where to move to, sent me an email yesterday that he found a new place. He was excited about it and knew without a doubt that this was where God wanted him. I told him that doubt for me means don’t from God because His answer is never “maybe” or “perhaps,” it’s always a big “YES!!!!” when He wants us to go in a certain direction.

Here’s the deal:

So all day now I’m going to God, “Should I say this?” “Should I do this” “Should I go here?” and I listen for His direction. If I feel peace or excitement, that’s my cue from Him to proceed. No peace means no move!

A question to Him yesterday was “Should I go to work?” (Working with a hubby/boss certainly has its privileges!) The feeling from God was to go and I was so happy I did.

“Worry about nothing, instead pray about everything.” In this life there will always be challenges, trouble, frustrations, but we must not get discouraged.

“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

In other words, we roll with God and He’s working behind the scenes of our lives, protecting us, fighting for us, helping us with our challenges and therefore we can relax and simply focus on doing our best with what He would have us to do and leave the rest with Him.

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty (Zechariah 4:6)

“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!” – Pastor Joel Osteen

God,
Thank You that we’re not going by the ordinary rules of man. Help us to “get accustomed to referring everything to You.”
Amen.

WE ROLL WITH GOD

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I said to someone this week. She showed up in my life earlier this year and we’ve been having some pretty deep conversations. Her partner was caught cheating on her and she sent a message to me, needing someone to talk to.

Honestly, talking to her has helped me! In my years of marriage, I’ve always been this fretful wife, afraid that my husband would leave me for another woman (specifically a younger woman!), but as I encouraged her, I encouraged myself that we’re to keep our eyes fixed on God. To stay on the difficult high road, being the best wives He has called us to be and to leave the rest with Him.

The Nikki that used to check her husband’s phone, doesn’t anymore. I respect his privacy and bottom line, I trust him. But more importantly, I trust God that even if my husband was to leave me tomorrow for this imaginary younger woman, I’m secure in God who has proven since the very first day I was born that He will never leave me or forsake me. My confidence lies with Him!

Every day I just do my part in being the best wife I can possibly be. I see the best in my husband. I can’t be with him 24 hours a day, but when we’re not together, I’m not calling him anymore to check and see where he is because wherever he is and whatever he’s doing is none of my business. I’m so focused on God and I use that opportunity when we’re apart to work on what’s important to me like my book project or spending quality time with God, my kids or close friends.

I’ve surrendered my marriage to God! I’ve let go of trying to control what happens in our relationship. I keep my eyes fixed on God and what He would have me to do from moment to moment, being my most loving and forgiving self and I’M HAPPIER FOR IT!

Here’s the deal:

We’re to keep our eyes focused on God, not this world, worried about nothing and praying about everything. I love what I read in my morning’s appointment with Him:

“God has placed people around us to help us along life’s path and hopefully teach us something about Himself. Though we hold them dear, we should hold them loosely. Our children, spouse, parents, and dearest friends, after all, belong to Him. And none of them were ever meant to fill the space that only He can fill.

Surrender. You’ll discover surprises you would never have known otherwise. And you’ll know Christ (God) better than you ever thought you could.”

God,
Thank You for all the wonderful people you have brought into our lives. Assist us in surrendering those relationships to You, trusting that whatever You want for us is ultimately best for us.
Amen.

WE ROLL WITH GOD

That was me thanking my twelve year old daughter, Ember, for voluntarily bringing me coffee this morning. I asked her if she wanted to exercise with me and she agreed. I enjoyed all 14 minutes of it with her! I also had a few minutes with my Juju Pooh, who was upset at me for telling her I don’t want her borrowing anything from her friends. I taught her the important lesson my mother taught me when I was her age: “What you don’t have, do without.” And still, this advice of learning to be content in whatever situation I find myself, is working for me. My sons always give me a hard time with eating and they kept coming to me while we exercised to show me their plates, asking if they had ate enough and I kept sending them back to eat more.

I think I enjoyed this time with them a little bit more than I usually would after my appointment with God yesterday. It was reading a book called ‘Intimacy with the Almighty’ by Charles R. Swindoll, and a chapter entitled: “Simplicity: Reordering Our Lives.” It started,

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me;” (Rev. 3:20) This is the Lord’s great invitation to intimacy; to be alone with Him, to enjoy the pleasure of His company over a meal that nourishes both heart and soul.

But can we hear His knocking? Can we hear His voice over the clamor and chaos that all too often fragments our lives?”

I’m pretty good now about my appointments with God, but the chapter asked some important questions:
“Are too many things draining your energy, leaving you exhausted—even resentful? What will your family remember twenty or thirty years from now—a blur of overtiredness, and hurryhurryhurry? Or warm relationships, laughter hugs, and long, quiet walks and talks?”

Here’s the deal:

Let’s work on decluttering and simplify our lives, making space for what’s truly important. As I read that chapter, that was exactly how I felt, overtired. How can we simplify our lives a little bit more so we don’t feel like our life is becoming a blur? Something to think about!

God,

Help us to simplify our lives and make space for what truly matters, especially an intimate relationship with You.

Amen.

WE ROLL WITH GOD

I’ll never get over how intimately God is involved in our lives. On Saturday I was talking to a friend about me speaking at my children’s school today. She was nice enough to listen to my little speech, giving me a chance to practice. I have no problem writing, but I’m totally shy when it comes to public speaking and after our conversation, I started to already feel nervous. Really nervous! And the presentation was two days away! My heart was racing and her daughter and my daughters (all great public speakers), all gave me advice, but that didn’t help. But, God, knowing every thought we think had the perfect encouragement in my 5 pm appointment with Him.

I found a quiet spot and the very book and page I opened to on my phone was astonishingly the story of Oprah Winfrey’s first celebrity interviews. It just so happened that she was given five minutes to interview each celebrity and I was given 5 minutes for my speech, so I totally took that as a God wink, no coincidence! In her book, ‘What I Know For Sure,’ here’s how Oprah described that day:

“There were throngs of local newscasters, entertainment/lifestyle reporters, each given five minutes to interview an actor from the season’s upcoming lineup. I started to feel nervous. Uncomfortable. Inept. (Me on Saturday reading this!) Not good enough to be there with all these other reporters from much bigger cities with more experience than I.

For some reason-you might call it a coincidence; I call it grace in action-I was switched from the Priscilla Presley line to interview a young comedian who was starting a new show called Mork & Mindy. What followed were five of the most exhilarating, wild, off-the-charts minutes I’d ever spent in an interview, with the most uninhibited, out-of-the-box, free-falling-in-every-second celebrity/human I’d ever met. He wasn’t afraid to be his many selves. I had a great fun playing with Robin Williams, and I learned in that instant to go where the interview takes you. He was all over the place, and I had to flow with it.

So when my turn came to talk to Miss Priscilla, I had received the lesson: You can’t accomplish anything worthwhile if you inhibit yourself. If life teaches you nothing else, know this: When you get the chance, go for it.”

Here’s the deal:

Sometimes you just have to leave your comfort zone and go for it, knowing God is with you every step of the way! I’m thrilled I did! You guys should have seen me with the microphone interviewing the students, as if I was Oprah Winfrey!

Dear God,
Thank You that no matter what we’re going through, You’re always right there with us holding our hands. Your love is all we need. Amen.

WE ROLL WITH GOD

I’m in love with these Bible verses:

“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

One of the comments I received back from my book publisher is that I write “A LOT” about the importance of pausing before making any decision. Honestly, if you only take one thing from my posts, this would be it: Pause and listen for God’s input in everything you do, everything you say and everywhere you go, because He guides you on the path to the best life with Him. My life has become a wonderful adventure and I’m having the most enjoyable conversation with God. In the 1,000 decisions I make every day, I run to Him for His input and I make great decisions. When I say God, I don’t want to hear from you on this matter, this is when crazy lady shows up!

And I’m beginning to know His voice so clearly now that it’s becoming like instincts and automatically I know what God would have me to do. The lesson lately from Him has been to practice genuine love, not pretend love. If anyone has anything against me, honestly it’s their issue to deal with because I’m going to be my most genuinely loving self with them. Going into any conversation with anyone from the standpoint of genuine love for the person has made me so much happier! Everything is between me and God, not between me and anyone else! I’ve learned that no one is perfect and just how I turn into crazy lady when I’m not my most loving self, so does everyone else. We’re all insane when we do not love genuinely.

“I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people…” (Psalm 85:8)

I’ve made the best decisions from listening to God and that’s mostly trusting my internal guidance, a deep knowing inside of me that I’ve learned is God’s voice. When I follow this leading, God takes me on magnificent paths with Him, but, boy oh boy, when I go against His directions, it ain’t pretty!

“In all your ways acknowledge Him…”

WE ROLL WITH GOD

This comment from a friend totally made my day yesterday when we had one of our sacred telephone conversations. We’ve never met, but we’ve connected as though we’ve known each other for years.

She was so excited telling me about her appointments with God and she actually put me on hold for a bit so that she could grab her iPad and read from our meditation book, ‘Jesus Calling’ by Sarah Young. She said, “Listen to what I read at my appointment last night for April 1 and 2.” And she read them both to me, but she didn’t read the accompanying Bible verses that were shared at the end of each one.

We discussed so many great things in that conversation, like she’s working on a course to improve herself on her job and things that she was making an idol in her life, she’s refocused her attention back on God. She said in the appointments with Him, she doesn’t leave until she feels like she has received a high five from God, like I often describe it. That made the God maniac super happy.

Fast forward to this morning, in my appointment with God, and not feeling as if I was getting the high five I was looking for from Him in reading another book, I got the feeling to reread the April 1 and 2 where God totally blew me away.

Since receiving an email from the publisher of my book on Friday, I was a little upset about some of their comments and I decided to rewrite the book introduction before having a follow up discussion with them today. At the end of that book introduction, I had a quote that I love, but I was feeling that wasn’t the right quote for the introduction and I changed it to my one of my favorite Bible verses lately, feeling it much better reflected the essence of the book:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

And the Bible verse quoted at the end of the devotional for April 1 that my friend excitedly read to me, but left out:

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6

Once again, out of the blue, everything lined up perfectly, with God assuring me that He’s my unseen Partner with my life and with this book, as if He was saying, ‘Nik, HIGH FIVE, you’re on the right path. Let’s keep going!’

WE ROLL WITH GOD

Was my message from God in my 12 pm appointment with Him yesterday. The verse continues, “For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” And the book I was reading continued:

“That promise is for you, your children, and your children’s children.”

Guys, I believe every word of this! Just one evening yesterday with my family brought this verse alive:

My hubby and I came home from work and all the kids met us in the kitchen. My hubby greets my sons, “The future CEOs of ….,” referring to our company. Shortly thereafter hubby made the decision for us all to eat in our living room and not the dining room, where we usually eat dinner. We turn on the TV to watch the news and the top story was of Rupert Murdoch finally announcing that he is turning over his companies to his sons to run. The final comment by a reporter was that Mr. Murdoch really wants both he and his sons to all run the companies together. I started screaming, “GOD WINK!” A few minutes before this my hubby announces my sons as future CEOs and we go to watch TV and see that this was the top news story was not a coincidence, but God giving me a glimpse into our future, where He’s promising us that not only will I reap a harvest, but my children and my children’s children as well, when we continue doing good.

I gathered some plates to take to the kitchen suggesting that the older kids should volunteer to help me carry them. After no one did, I said to my hubby, “My new lesson in life: EXPECT NOTHING!” and we had a good laugh. As usual the two future CEOs, both wanted to be snuggled next to mommy, with Emmie falling asleep on a pillow next to me and Joshie falling asleep on my lap.

My hubby had fussed me out that morning for not helping him enough at work and after venting to myself about it for a bit, I decided to improve. Having a hardworking husband who loves and takes excellent care of his family and is home every evening with us, is not something I take for granted.

E… I am blessed!

WE ROLL WITH GOD