I’VE SPENT TWO DAYS COMPLETELY AGITATED

I’VE SPENT TWO DAYS COMPLETELY AGITATED

That’s how it be sometimes, my peeps! Not every day is all jolly jolly, but I’ve come through those days a new person: KNOWING my God is with me. It’s no more ”as if” God is real; It’s GOD IS REAL and His LOVING and FAITHFUL presence is with me in every moment. And of course I want you here with me, feeling and loving Him right back!

In every moment, the tough and not so tough one’s, CONTINUALLY GIVING GOD OUR HAND as we go bravely and joyfully with Him as our Partner and Guide. I don’t know about you, but I need His wisdom, help, love, and protection EVERY MINUTE. No shame in my game God, I NEED YOU!

I’ve decided to make Him a BIGGER priority this year! Just how I wake up and say my exercise is a must, well, my time with God is a must! I will discipline myself to spend one hour with Him every morning reading my meditation books and asking what He has to say to me.

Lately, He’s asking me to work on my personality a little, being more joyful, gentle and humble so that people can feel His love through me. He’s asking me to go further in my kindness, seeking to please Him in everything I do and seeing everything looking through His eyes first. OK, Boss.

”Make an impact, ” is another message I’m picking up from Him. Even more reason I need to make that hour with Him a RULE for my life. I want to hear what He wants me doing in the world to accomplish my mission of bringing humanity closer to Him. So far, I feel as if I’ve done nothing.

Honestly, though, these alone times with Him just give me the courage to face life courageously knowing I have Him with me. And it’s OK if we let go of His hand every once in a while because He never lets go of ours.

KEEP CALM–YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

9 The generous will themselves be blessed,
    for they share their food with the poor.

‘GOD, I’M VERY ANGRY RIGHT NOW!’

That was me running to Him for some alone time in a very upsetting morning. The crazy lady had come out in full force, and I needed some quiet minutes with Him. I opened up a book entitled ‘Goodness’ and there I amazingly found the perfect message from God:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Roman 12:21

Being good and exhibiting goodness may be a battleground. Just because you decide to let goodness become a part of your lifestyle doesn’t necessarily mean that it will happen without a struggle…It’s a process, a daily commitment… There are ups and downs, good days and bad days, good and evil are a constant struggle.”

It was if God was saying, ‘It’s cool, Nik. There are going to be times when you’re not going to have it all perfectly together. Learn the lessons from the situation and let’s keep going.’

A BIG lesson turned out to be that not all battles are for me to fight. I felt God saying to me later that the crazy lady should go away and I obeyed – God, anything to please You!’ The calm, wise, sweet and forgiving Nik returned. I eventually felt Him say to TURN OVER the entire issue to Him. Yes, Boss! This old post came to mind:

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)

By His Spirit

In this day and age, we are equipped with so many wonderful resources in the natural: technology, education, abilities. It’s easy to rely on our own natural strength for so many things.

We have to remember that this natural world is only temporary, but the spiritual realm is eternal. We aren’t limited to the earth’s resources; we have unlimited spiritual resources by the Spirit of God. There are some things in life 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 by the resources of this world. When you open the door of faith in your heart, God will move through you in powerful ways by His Spirit.” – Joel Osteen

God is in control of everything and everyone!!! He can do way beyond what we can even think or imagine in the spiritual realm. When He tells me to cool down and leave matters with Him, I trust Him because of all the battles I’ve seen Him fight on my behalf before. That’s why I say EVERYTHING is between us and God, not between anyone else. I want us OBEDIENT to His will, seeking to please Him in every moment. We do what we feel through our spirit what He is directing us to do on a moment by moment basis and we leave the rest of the battle with Him. Wink! Wink!

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

EVEN WHEN I PEE PEE GOD IS WITH ME

I have these meditation books in our bathroom to encourage my hubby to have appointments with God and late last night before going to bed, I felt I needed some time alone with Him reading my Jesus Calling Morning and Evening devotional by Sarah Young.

That morning, I had received a beautiful WhatsApp message from someone who is not even in my contact list. The message touched me so much that I shared it with so many people, wishing the same to them:

“In the new year, the Lord will bless you and keep you. He will be gracious to you and make his face shine upon you. He will look kindly upon you and give you peace. Happy New Year.”

So, as I then sat on the potty late last night (Too much info!) Out of 365 days, I got a feeling to read what Jesus Calling (written as if God is speaking) had to say for my birthday and I surprisingly and joyously read:

“I BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU; I make My Face shine upon you; I turn My Face toward you and give you Peace. I want you to meditate on this blessing, for it expresses well the overflow of my heart towards you. Those who come to Me find not only my approval but also rest for their souls.”

Wow! Another God wink when once again and totally out of the blue, everything lined up a little bit too perfectly and God reminding me that His Presence is always with me.

What a way to start off the new year, knowing God Himself is telling me that He will bless and keep me and give me peace. And His peace is not like anything You will find in this world. With everything I have going on in my life, words cannot express how I felt at that moment. I remembered that I handle nothing alone and all my burdens were suddenly lifted knowing God is my Partner, Helper, Counselor, Father and Adviser and that we’re not going by the ordinary rules of man. God can do what we can’t do by working in the spiritual realm!

Do you have appointments with Him? Don’t miss out on the best and most important relationship of your life. Like any great relationship, you must spend time getting to know one another. Every time I have a meeting/alone time with God I’m learning a little bit more about Him and who He would have me to be. Like in reading an old post and another meditation book this morning, He again challenged me to love the people who I don’t so much like. And for Him, I’m seeking as one of my top goals this year to be a more loving person every day, all for His glory.

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“LET’S BE HAPPY”

That’s me encouraging a friend a few minutes ago and a message to ALL of us (including me!) today. We’ve both noticed how God has a way of revealing stuff to us. Like God, I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY didn’t need to know that!!! But I’m on to Him because He knows the situations we need to help us become the people He would have us to be. We’re not going to always like them, but He has a way of weaving all the bad stuff into such good. Bottom line, WE MUST TRUST HIM no matter how treacherous the circumstances.

Easier said than done, right?!? So, here’s how I handle all the disappointments, problems, and frustrations that come my way: I HOLD ONTO GOD’S HANDS SUPER TIGHT. I then keep my eyes fixed on Him and what He would have me to do on a moment by moment basis. I next turn my losses into lessons like Cardi B taught me, and instead of getting bitter, I get better, baby.

Another valuable lesson I’ve importantly learned is that some things we see we have to pretend we didn’t see, and some things we hear we pretend we didn’t hear. Some of the battles are for God to fight. Professional ignorers we have to be, knowing the right fights to take on based on God’s guidance. With one glance at Him, I now know what He would have me to do. SHHHH! Be quiet! Is what I hear a lot! (SMILE)

Superhero style is where I want us, entirely focused on being the loving, compassionate, humble, gentle, patient, and kind people yet at the same time strong, brave, fearless and courageous. And it’s cool if you aren’t there yet. Neither am I. But that’s where the PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE COMES IN. Working on constant and never-ending improvement. God is helping me to become so immune to the hurts; NOBODY’S PERFECT! God is our ultimate Boss, and sometimes we must take and put up with certain things knowing our reward lies with Him. Got that? Where my super heroes at? When others are weak, let’s be strong for them.

“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I (God) have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“WE CAME TO LEARN MESSY LOVE” (REPOST)

Was my message to a friend one Monday after she had an unexpected visitor showed up at her house. I shared with her a post I love from Tumblr.com:

“Dear Human: You’ve got it all wrong. You didn’t come here to master unconditional love. That is where you came from and where you’ll return. You came here to learn personal love. Universal love. Messy love. Sweaty love. Crazy love. Broken love. Whole love. Infused with divinity.”

On Tuesday, she sent me another message that she’s struggling over what had happened that Sunday and asked me to call her. I had another idea, though, for her to pick 10 pages from my unpublished book and see what God had to say to her. She went along with this idea and decided she will read every 20th page starting on page 20 to 40, 60, 80 and so on.

She gets to page 20 and unbelievably of all things there, this exact quote I had sent her the day before. Her response was: “Girl talk about a God wink. After that, I decided to forgive and let go. It just makes me want to cry to see how amazing God is. What are the chances of me going on that exact page first out of all those pages in your book.”

And she’s not alone in this messy love. I’m sure we all have our share to deal with, but I’m encouraged by God to stay on the high road with Him, becoming the superhuman and superwife He has challenged me to be, practicing endless mercy, grace (pardoning without punishment), patience and forgiveness, being my most loving self. He even sent me a special wink of my own reading a post on Facebook:

“Smile, things are working out. You may not see it now, but just know God is directing you to a much greater happiness.” I feel it!

Dear God, may we learn all the messy love lessons You would have us to learn, loving others the way You love us. Amen.

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

GOD EXCEEDS MY EXPECTATIONS

That’s my testimony FOR SURE! Today, I had to hug and kiss my daughters, Ember and Julie, goodbye as they left on a school trip out of the country. For months we’ve been on this roller coaster with their dad as to whether they would go or not. But I’ve used it as an opportunity to teach them some important life lessons:

1- You earn respect, no one gives it to you. They ran with this advice to impress their father. They stepped up in their school work, responsibilities at home, and overall in their character we could see them trying to be the best versions of themselves. Respect earned, my girls!

2- God is our Boss!!! Anytime hubby would get on the they’re not going bandwagon, I reminded the girls that the final decision was in God’s hand. We’re to give Him our best in everything. Everything is between God and us, not between us and anyone else. We’re to be our kindest, most loving, hardworking, and beautiful selves knowing God is the One to reward us.

3- “Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.” Sometimes they would get pessimistic and think worst case scenario, but I would constantly remind them, “We’re expecting the best from God!” Great reminder for all of us!

And let me tell ya, the whole experience has brought my daughters and me closer to God. He has once again EXCEEDED our expectations! God is amazing!

This morning, I woke up a little bit sad because I’m already missing them. They’re not only my daughters, they’re my close friends (SMILE), and I love our intense and intimate conversations and how we sharpen one another; Very wise girls I have! Last week, I had sent a message to someone traveling with them:

“The name of my blog is We Roll With God so I know His Presence will go with you guys.”

And as I opened my meditation book first thing this morning, God confirmed my belief:

“ENTRUST YOUR LOVED ONES TO ME (God); release them to My protective care…My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest.” – Jesus Calling

For me to open directly to this message from Him was no coincident! This is another LOVE NOTE from God to remind me of His intimate involvement in my life, even as far as taking care of my daughters as I release them over to His care.

God, I believe in Your love. You’re FAITHFULNESS is my COMFORT as I travel through this trouble-filled world, holding Your hands super tight. Amen.

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“YOU ALWAYS MOTIVATE ME AND BRING ME ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO GOD…

…I’m very blessed by your inspirational word. I hope and pray that you reach out to many people like me.”

This Facebook message from a young man touched my heart yesterday. And it’s my prayer as well to reach many more people with this GREAT NEWS that God is intimately involved in every moment of our lives as our Helper, Best Friend, Comforter, Strategist, Father, Counselor, Teacher, Planner, and Faithful Life Partner.

Are you feeling His Presence? That’s the goal of these posts. That as I share my stories, you too will begin to feel God’s close involvement in your ordinary, everyday life. Like today, my daughter, Ember, kept asking me for a toothbrush. I said, “Your dad has many. Get one from him.” She replied, “They’re all soft, and I want a medium.” After all her persistence, I suddenly remembered some electronic toothbrushes I had purchased months ago that I’ve procrastinated in setting up because it needs a different voltage to charge from the one we have in Nigeria. I even bought different , and I heard her telling her sister that she must download an app on her phone that goes along with the fancy toothbrushes. Call me the crazy God person, but this is God’s way of showing His love to my daughter, and I’m so happy that she felt it, too. (SMILE)

My experience with Him is that He always EXCEEDS my expectations. Ember only wanted a regular toothbrush, and she got the Rolls Royce of toothbrushes! She just excitedly told me about all the features! God is pretty sweet and cool like that!

The other day, I was feeling sad, and I finally went to Him to ask what He had to say to me. And He used a conversation that I had with my daughter, Julie, that day to let me know that this thing I was feeling down about losing was actually His will for me. I had asked her if she was having her alone times with God and I mentioned how I admired that about Jesus who always went aside to talk with God. I said to her even before being crucified He said that GOD’S WILL SHOULD BE DONE, NOT HIS. And as I asked God what He had to tell me a few hours later, as I randomly scrolled my new meditation book, He and I, this was written as if Jesus was speaking:

“Remain at my feet. Get ready to listen to Me. Make your will one with Mine; this, too, is union. This is how I kept myself before My Father—‘YOUR WILL NOT MINE BE DONE.’

This was another LOVE NOTE from God and that He didn’t want me sad. He incredibly used that little talk with Julie to let me know He’s ALWAYS with me. It even showed up in the book on my birthday! God is still speaking, my people! It’s just up to us to listen and pay attention!!! Are you?

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“NIKKI, YOU LOOK LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSON”

That was from my friend, Mabel, yesterday. I told her that she has been a significant part of my transformation as she was the one to introduce me to smoothies, but she corrected me saying, “No. It’s the work of God.”

HERE’S THE DEAL:

God makes us BETTER! I’m amazed when I look back on the Nikki that I use to be to the Nikki God has helped me become. I asked my daughter, Julie, to have an appointment with God with me, and the page she just randomly opened to blew me away from our kids’ devotional:

“Jacob had come face-to-face with God and it changed his life.

When Jacob began to cooperate, God started working, and the first thing he did was give Jacob a new name, a new identity. God changed Jacob from a cheater and schemer to a good man with the name “Israel,” a “prince of God.” God knew Jacob’s potential, he saw through Jacob’s attempt to be a tough guy. God saw all of Jacob’s weaknesses, but he also saw beneath the surface. “That’s not the real you, Jacob. You’re actually an Israel. You are a prince.” God saw the prince in Jacob and changed him into that kind of guy.

When we’ve had personal encounter with God, we can no longer be the same. The good news is this: beneath all those things that you do not like about yourself, God sees an Israel. He sees the prince or princess. He sees what you can become. He sees your potential, and he wants to change you from a Jacob to an Israel. Let God do his changing.” – The Purpose Driven Life Devotional for Kids

After discussing this with Julie, I said to her I feel God was speaking to me to stop feeling sad over a particular situation and get back focused on the BIG PLANS He has for me. She said, “Mom, what did you say?” I repeated myself that I needed to get back focused on God’s BIG PLANS for me like writing my book on marriage. She replied, look what this prayer I just read says:

“Lord, I’m glad to be a part of your BIG PLANS.”

Wink! Wink! And once again, and entirely out of the blue, everything lined up a little bit too perfect to be coincident. It was another LOVE NOTE from God to remind Julie and me (and you!) that His Presence is always with us, even as I sat in our bathroom tub having an appointment with Him! TMI!!! Told ya! God is intimately involved in our lives! (SMILE!)

Who we were five minutes ago, does not define who we have to be going forward. Let’s ALL become the prince and princesses God has created us to be. What weaknesses do you have to work on? I’ve now made three words my goals for the year: LOVE, DISCIPLINE, AND FOCUS. May God help all of us. Amen.

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

“GOING THROUGH HELL WITH A SMILE” (REPOST)

That’s me all the way! All the disappointments, frustrations, challenges, losses, defeats and anything else “negative” that may show up, you’re girl is turning them into CRUCIAL LESSONS THAT GOD HIMSELF WOULD HAVE ME TO LEARN. I’m going HIGHER with God! And I want you here with me; when life throws us lemons, we make some extra sweet lemonade. We’re ROLLING with God, Who knows how to turn all evil INTO SUCH GOOD. (Wink! Wink!)

CASE IN POINT:

I got a very disappointing phone call last night. But I’ve decided to shake it off and leave the people involved in God’s hands. We can’t control anyone, but God can. I simply keep my eyes on HIM asking what He would have me to do in every situation. Some battles are for me to fight, and some He says, ‘Nik, leave this one with Me.’ Life is way too short to be fighting unnecessary fights. The wiser Nik is handing MOST of the battles over to God, like ‘God, this is Your child, you deal with them!’ Which gives me the time and energy to FOCUS on the fights God has for me to contend with. Like I was so inspired by a new mom at my kids’ school who sent me a text that this week before some big tests, her and her kids will be diligently preparing for them at home. My kinda mama!

So, guys, anything that comes our way that wants to throw us off our groove, we simply say, ‘Devil, NOT TODAY!’ and we keep our eyes on God. We stay on the HIGH ROAD being our best, most loving and beautiful selves KNOWING GOD IS OUR ULTIMATE BOSS.

Yesterday I had to leave work early to be with my Joshie at home who was not feeling well. This morning when he complained about hiccups, I said, “Boo, thank God you’re feeling better.” I call him and the other kids my FANTASTIC FOUR. How ya feeling vro (very rare treasure)? is the question I continually ask and they reply, “I feel fantastic!” The BLESSINGS FROM GOD get better and better. What anyone does is between them and their God. Nik, over here, is going to suck up to God as much as possible living my BEST life with Him as my personal Guide and Partner. Woohoo! The stumbling blocks have become my stepping stones!

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD

GOD, I TAKE BACK THAT PRAYER FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH YOU!!!

That’s me having some fun and JOKING with God, lately! I’m so on to Him now, and I know that the way He brings us closer to Him is through tribulations, challenges, disappointments, pain, hurts, frustrations and LOTS OF SUFFERING. When we’re happy, and everything is going our way, we forget about God, but when the tough times come, oh my goodness, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE REMEMBER HIM. Then, we go running and asking for His help! I’m I right or wrong?

He even confirmed this through my meditation book, He and I, after I spent a few days agitated:

“If I (God) had another way of bringing you closer to Me than suffering, I would choose it.”

This was His sweet way of letting me know that He sees what I’m going through, but if there was another way of bringing me closer to Him, He would use it. What kind of a love is this?

Yesterday I asked my daughters to watch the Grammy Awards with me, but when we couldn’t find the full show on YouTube, we ended up watching clips and an interview with 21 Savage after he was released by immigration in the U.S. He got my attention with this very deep comment:

“I’ve been through so much in my life that I’ve learned to embrace the times that I’m down because they always build me up.”

Same here. The worst times in my life have been the best times for me because they’ve helped me become BETTER, STRONGER, WISER, BRAVER AND MORE TRUSTING IN GOD. My meditation book, Jesus Calling, really encouraged me today, written as if God is speaking to us:

“I want you to rely confidently on Me…I have already proved how trustworthy I am. Cast all your anxiety on Me because I care for you…Whatever you’re facing, I can help you handle it better. Seek to find Joy in this day I have made for you. I’ve hidden small treasures along your pathway. Search for them, and thank Me for each one you find.”

And today was filled with lots! I hung out with my kids at work with hubby, and it was such a beautiful day. After telling them a few times that we’re going by the supernatural rules where everything is possible with God, we passed a huge billboard with the word “SUPERNATURAL” pasted across it. I said, “See there, ordinary rules don’t apply to us!” We’re thinking only of the best, working only for the best and expecting only the best KNOWING GOD IS WORKING IN THE SUPERNATURAL REALM ON OUR BEHALF. Wink! Wink!

KEEP CALM—YOU’RE ROLLING WITH GOD