We Roll With God

That was surprisingly from my husband this morning when I called him my gift from God! Lately, I’ve been looking at everything from a different perspective. I magically see everything and everyone as a delightful and unique gift from God to me. Like I go to the kitchen today, and there is a big bag of mangoes freshly plucked from our trees outside, and I thought, ‘Wow, God, You love me so much!’ I excitedly called my daughter, Julie, a fellow mango lover, and she was excited to see so many of them. I then told her, “This is God showing us His love. Let’s have an appointment with Him together.”
She came and sat in the new area that I have for appointments with God, and we ended up chatting about some future goals and plans and where we feel God is directing us. And as I sat there listening, I was just in awe of God – Like GOD, THANK YOU FOR THESE WONDERFUL KIDS!!!
So, from the littlest of things (having fresh mangoes) to the biggest of things (the best family ever) I’m unceasingly thanking God, and I want you guys here with me. I’m taking NOTHING for granted, everything and everyone have all been lovingly arranged and orchestrated by God Himself because of His unconditional love for me. And He’s doing the same thing for you! Are you paying attention?
I feel universally guided and protected by Him. When my mind wants to conjure up worst case scenarios, I smack myself in the head and say, ‘Nik, WE’RE TRUSTING THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE, REMEMBER?’ I don’t doubt that He is on my side working things out in the spiritual realm on my behalf. Wink! Wink! Even the negative stuff that shows up I know is also from Him to teach me some valuable lessons and to keep me from making mistakes and going in directions that He would not have me to go. Not that way, Nik! (SMILE)
I loved a wink from Him last night having an appointment with my hubby. It was a verse that showed up and I ended up playing a YouTube video on it (Jeremiah 3:33) and how God is saying this to us:
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
I showed hubs my God notes where I had written a few days ago:
“Spend time with God alone every day so that He may share His secrets with you…”
Jeremiah and I are in sync! These plans and goals Julie and I were discussing included all the God winks we’ve been experiencing where He seems to be personally directing us. Like no way these can be coincidences!!! Which gives us all the Godfidence to move forward confidently in the direction of our dreams, baby, KNOWING GOD IS WITH US. Amen.
Don’t miss out on those crucial alone times with Him; He has lots to say to you, too!!! Wink! Wink! Don’t make a move before hearing from God first!
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

That was me yesterday reading this from an old post I had shared two years ago:

“Like I was telling this person yesterday, my wilderness experience showed me there were too many things getting between me and God from my natural hair fixation, my weight frustrations, constant Facebook check-ins, obsessing over how to control other people and situations, negative thinking, and constant worrying, just to name a few! LOL!”

Wow, I was pretty messed up FOR REAL! But by God’s grace He has helped me tackle all those demons:

THE NATURAL HAIR FIXATION: My daughter, Julie, asked after I was taking too long to do my hair, “Mom, are you really going to spend another year focused on your hair?” Since then, I put the hair thing in proper perspective. It should take me no longer than 10 minutes every day for my hair. And the Sunday all day wash day has been drastically reduced to a couple of hours. Woohoo! What God thinks of me is far more important than how others perceive me appearance wise.

MY WEIGHT FRUSTRATIONS: Watching my daughter, Ember (in the picture), keep her weight so under control, I figured out that she only eats one cooked BIG meal a day and I joined her bandwagon. All day I eat raw fruits and veggies and every night is date night with hubby as we enjoy our Nigerian food cooked with lots of vegetables purchased from local farmers. Julie and I have also given up meat and chicken and honestly, I’ve stopped weighing myself. The Nik who was constantly frustrated about her weight is GONE!!! God, thank You!!!

CONSTANT FACEBOOK CHECK-INS: Allowed only on my computer and not on my phone. Instead, my phone is to read books, listen to inspirational messages and to GET CLOSER TO GOD. I’m loving He and I by Gabrielle Bossis right now and me and the girls have agreed to read Michelle Obama’s book becoming together.

OBSESSING OVER HOW TO CONTROL OTHER PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS: I said to hubby yesterday, “I’ve freed you to your life. Whatever you do is between you and God.” When I’m with him, I enjoy him; When I’m not with him, I enjoy whomever I’m with. And because God is ALWAYS with me, there is never a dull moment in my life. I’m SUPER HAPPY HERE!!!

NEGATIVE THINKING: As for me, my hope and faith is in God. I think of the best, I work towards the best, I think the best and I expect the best knowing God is on my side. I live life resting on His heart where He carries the heavy parts of everything concerning me.

CONSTANT WORRYING: I gots no time for that! I’m too busy enjoying my life and TRUSTING GOD.

HAVE YOU GIVEN YOUR HEART TO GOD? This is the best life with Him, I’m telling you! But please don’t take my word for it, get to know Him for yourself! Just say this prayer with me, “God, I want a closer walk with You. Amen.” Then make Him a priority by having some alone times with Him every day reading anything spiritual that feeds your soul. He speaks to each of us differently. Don’t miss out!

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

Someone commented to me yesterday. They’ve noticed all the changes in me since returning from my “wilderness experience” of being away from Nigeria for three months without kids, hubby and close friends.
Honestly, I feel different. I’m happier, calmer, not worried about anything, not so distracted and truly feeling like I’m God’s girl. And of course, I want you all here with me where we’re trusting God infinity percent, LAYING ALL OUR AFFAIRS IN HIS HANDS.
“The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.” – Mottos for Success
In fact, I want us to the point that we’re thanking God for all our problems because we know that God will use them to teach us valuable lessons that He would have us to learn and to grow us up so that we’re mature not lacking anything.
That’s exactly what I’m doing with a big challenge I’m dealing with now. I’m open to everything that God is teaching me with it, most importantly knowing that it is He and I are handling it together. In my human mind, I think discouragement, but looking at it from God’s perspective I instead remind myself that nothing is too difficult for God. My most important job is to stick close to Him, listening as He directs me as to what He would have me do one step at a time. My new screensaver says:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
But to tap into God’s voice and His infinite wisdom (He really does know everything!), we must not let life distract us from developing our relationship with Him. He must be our first love and priority!
Like I was telling this person yesterday, my wilderness experience showed me there were too many things getting between me and God from my natural hair fixation, my weight frustrations, constant Facebook check-ins, obsessing over how to control other people and situations, negative thinking, and constant worrying, just to name a few! LOL!
What’s distracting you from God? He has the best plans for our lives, but without learning His voice, we miss out on his important direction. I want a closer walk with Him and to remember Him in every moment asking, “God, what should I do here? And here? And here?”
This may sound easy, but it’s extremely difficult. Like in the heat of an argument with hubby last night about a work-related issue, I was reminded that love is not rude and again in an appointment with God this morning I was reminded that my job is to assist my hubby (super wife all the way!), not make everything go my way. Super tough sometimes, but God’s ways are always the best. He has wonderfully led me to a beautiful life.
Commit to some form of a spiritual practice every day where you spend some time connecting with God. I love my meditation book Jesus Always by Sarah Young, and I highly recommend it! I’m learning new stuff about God! Heehaw!
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD/ALLAH

Don’t ask me how God does what He does, all I know is that He has done ALL of the above for me. Don’t think for one second that this life close to God is all rosy posy because it ain’t! There are lots of ups, downs, and in-betweens that He takes us through. But I can tell you wholeheartedly, none of the pain, aggravations, stress, and frustrations are wasted. God incredibly uses every iota to form us into the new creations HE would have us to be.
Let me tell ya, pain is a part of life, so just get over having a perfect life. IT DOES NOT EXIST! Even the apostle Paul, who wrote half of the New Testament complained of a thorn in His side. I have my share of them, too, but God has unbelievably been using them to make me softer, more forgiving, patient, and content.
One relationship God has helped me to heal has been with my elder daughter, Ember. Despite the fact that she’s upset at me right now because we disagree about the college she should attend in another three years. I want her thinking BIG because she amazes me with her brilliance. Ember so Fierce, baby!
God has helped me to calm down in being the tiger mom, focused on everything she was doing wrong, to her biggest encourager and cheerleader. My appointments with God, reading about how I felt He would have me to be as a mother, undoubtedly played a significant role in my turn-around. It’s paying off because yesterday she was announced as second place in her class and she only missed the honor roll by a few points.
And I’ll never stop talking how God has healed my mind. I’ve learned to tame all the depressing, insecure and fearful thoughts that were keeping your girl down. After learning the trick of keeping a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) from John Joseph, I beat my mind with a stick when those negative thoughts come. Instead, I think thoughts such as, ‘My God is with me and for me!’ That gives me the peace to relax and enjoy my life with Him as my Father and Guide.
But, I don’t want to be this happy by myself, I want you rolling with us, too. Just start involving God more in your life. From the minor to the major decisions, ask for His help and start paying attention to His communications that can literally show up anywhere.
KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

Forget getting bitter- get BETTER AND CLOSER TO GOD!!! That’s the wisdom I’m certainly learning from Him. People’s ways may be unfair with us, but let me tell ya, God’s ways are more than fair. In every moment He’s doing like 10,000 things for us that we’re unaware of. So, I take my place firmly on God’s shoulders (I’m His girl!) and I forget everything else. With His eyes of love always looking at me, I look lovingly back at Him asking what He would have me to do.

And to be very honest with you, God’s love is all that we need anyway. Yesterday morning, I woke up and immediately said, ‘Good morning, God.’ But because that sounded too generic/impersonal, I quickly corrected myself, ‘Good morning, My Love.’ Then fast forward to late on that day, I ran out of internet and decided to spend some time alone with God while I waited for some internet credit to reload. Can you believe I continued reading from where I had last left off in my meditation book, to read this as if God Himself was speaking directly to me:

“You will live with love. You will never leave love. And when you call Me, you will no longer say, ‘My God’ but, ‘My Love.’ And this will be the reality.” – He and I

This is my reality – I’m living with God’s love in every moment. I rejoice in knowing that I’m a beloved child of God. And so are you!!! God knows every thought we think and He’s familiar with all our ways. He goes to the trouble to orchestrate these intimate love moments between us. In fact, all the moments of my life are planned by Him – the good, bad and ugly because at the end of the day, they are ALL from His loving hands. Whatever God wants for us cannot but be good for us, including disappointments.

Sometimes we need to get rid of cherished hopes and dreams (nobody’s perfect!) that are not in alignment with God’s will for us, and we need to take a new and fresh perspective on things. God knows best. Finish. His ways are beyond what we can even imagine, but to get to our Promised Lands, we will INDEED have to go through some valleys.

But in those low times, He’s working on us. He’s bringing us closer to Him. He’s strengthening our faith. He’s teaching us His voice so that we learn what it is He would have us to do.

And there is nothing better than a life CLOSE to God. Don’t be fooled! I want us allowing all the disappointments and frustrations that come our way to PUSH us closer to Him. We can happily shake them off and relax at God’s feet knowing what was meant for evil is used by God for our good! Amen!

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

That was incredibly from my super son, Joshie, all day on Sunday, when my hubby had to leave out to attend to a critical work matter. He kept saying, “Let’s call daddy. Ask him when he is coming home!” I had to keep telling him that his father was busy, but will be back soon.

So, of course, it got my mind racing as to hubby’s whereabouts, but I said, ‘Devil you can’t have my joy today. If hubs said he’s at work, I must give him the benefit of the doubt.’ And after 17 years together, he has earned my loyalty, trust and respect. Instead of fretting or feeling sad about where he could be, I stayed in God’s Presence. I FOCUSED my attention on more urgent and crucial matters for the day, like spending time with my son, Emmie, studying. I enjoyed every moment with him during a one on one session. Super mamma here! Devil, I gots no time for you!

HERE’S THE DEAL:

Staying in God’s Presence is learning to be alert to Him in every moment. When the devil wanted to knock me off my groove and discourage me, I quickly remembered to keep my eyes fixed on God, thinking the thoughts that He Himself would have me to think. ‘Nik, leave your hubby with Me (some battles we turn over to God (Wink! Wink!), and FOCUS on Emmie today.’ I felt God saying. Yes, Father! And I did exactly that! We had such a wonderful mother-son bonding experience that I kept praying and thanking God for my wonderful kids. I’m Nikki so Blessed for sure!

God is able to help us in every aspect of our lives through His incredible wisdom. Today, I’m focused on assisting hubby with a problem involving something I know nothing about. But I felt God directing me to contact a company that I located on Google. Just like always, I’m following God one step at a time, picking up cues from Him, listening to His voice and His nudges as to what to do. TRUST ME, GOD IS AN EXPERT IN EVERYTHING! The wiser Nik is sucking up to Him asking Him what He would have me say, do and go in every moment. His ways are always on point! And those who look to Him will never beg for bread! When I don’t listen to Him is when I run into trouble! But with Him backing us up, “Success” will be our names!”

Let’s stay in God’s Presence, seeking His guidance and being the MATURE, LOVING people He is calling us to be. I’m talking the best spouses and parents, ALL FOR GOD’S GLORY!

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” God is our Boss!!!

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

Honestly, that’s how I’m feeling! God shows me such LOVE AND ATTENTION that I’m always blown away. I told my cook today, “I’m so spoilt!” I only had leftover mangoes from yesterday from our tree when I’ve grown accustomed to having fresh ones. Spoilt girl for sure!

But while talking with her, I saw a bird eating from our guava tree, and I remembered these verses from the Bible:

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Mathew 6:26-27, 32-34

And this is where I am with God. I trust that whatever I need will be provided for when I need it. Like I just had a conversation with two gentlemen who I have no doubt were sent by God to help me. Even one day when I thought I was on my own to handle something urgently, they showed up. So, whenever I see them, I’m reminded of God’s love for me. They came to our business for help fixing their car, and we ended up hiring them. There were the feelings of peace that I look for from God when making any decision. It was as if God Himself said, ‘Yes, Nik, hire them.’ And they’ve guided and help us so much. God, we’re grateful.

Have you invited God to be a part of your life in every moment? Just start paying attention to your intuition/gut/feelings. He is always speaking once you get to know His voice. The day my husband asked me to meet these gentlemen, I was FLOODED with feelings of peace. And those feelings led us to make a GREAT decision. On the other hand, the person they replaced, always gave me feelings of frustration, drama, confusion, and stress. That was God saying, ‘Fire him!’

Don’t miss out on a life close to God!!! I WANT YOU ASKING TOO, “WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THE KINDNESS OF MY GOD?”

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD