WOW!

I am here typing with massive goosebumps all over me! A customer called me earlier today to request a copy of his car’s registration. In looking at it, though, I noticed it was about to expire, so I told him I would renew it for him. The lady at the tag agency immediately texted me back the price of $41.10. To be honest, I didn’t feel like writing a post today, so I went to copy one I read earlier from our family’s website and look what showed up at the end of that very post:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – ISAIAH 41:10 (Wink! Wink!)

That 41:10 showing up there, THE EXACT PRICE OF THAT TAG RENEWAL, was another one of my God winks where everything lined up a little bit too perfect to be an ordinary coincidence. God again planted it there to say, ‘Nik, I’m with you! My invisible Presence is always with you!’ I called my customer and read the verse to him, and he got goosebumps, too, because his company just told him that they were letting him go. So this comforted him, letting him know that God was also with him. See the sweetness of God! This customer purchased this vehicle months ago but needed a copy of it today as he tries to hustle and find new employment.

Notice I didn’t have to help him get that tag renewed but I said let me go the extra mile for someone who purchased a vehicle from us, and going the extra mile was where I found God’s Presence waiting for me with that verse, surprisingly showing up. The way I’ve been supported lately, I’m trying to up my game in being more supportive of others. Life is a two-way street, and we all need each other! May we all go the extra mile in loving and supporting each other, so help us, God.

How’s your relationship with God going? WE NEED HIM!!! Like my friend, Curtis, said yesterday, it’s such a beautiful thing that I’ve developed a relationship with God, and I’m able to know His voice and direction. That’s where I want us all! Tapping into God’s voice and direction every second, every moment, seeking to be the people he would have us be. Today, that meant having a tough conversation with someone, but I felt God nudging me in my spirit to speak, even though He mostly is telling me to KEEP SILENT (HUGE SMILE). We won’t get it right all the time, but we can try to feel God’s direction, and with practice, practice, and more practice, we will know exactly what He would have us to do (OR NOT DO!). Tell him that you would like to recommit your life to Him today! He has the best plans and paths for our lives! He got us!

“THAT’S WHAT’S UP!”

That’s from my friend/loyal customer, Curtis! He was excited about my close relationship with God after I shared how God showed up for me using his words. This wink started this morning when a situation came up, and I remembered what he taught me one day about life being a game of chess where you strategize your moves four to five steps ahead and not checkers, where you quickly move without adequately thinking. I said, ‘Nik, it’s chess playing time! You must be the wise woman your brother, Kevin (in the pic with me!), has been training you to be.

Fast forward some hours later, I said let me have an appointment with God on our family’s website. It was 21 minutes past the hour, so I went to page 21, and look what incredibly showed up:

“Like this angel (Curtis) explained: Life is chess where you strategize 4 to 5 moves ahead, not checkers where you just react without thinking through the next moves.”

Currently, the website is up to 144 pages, so for me to go precisely to Curtis’ words on page 21 at 21 minutes past the hour was God’s sweet way of making me aware that His invisible Presence is with me (He knows every thought we think!!!). No coincidence whatsoever! And that I’m not handling this situation alone!

Now that’s really what’s up! Knowing you are not handling life alone and have the Creator of the universe walking with you through it all, talking with you, and even finding ways to cheer you up on difficult days. (HUGE SMILE)

I loved my conversation with Kevin today about not having to resort to drugs or alcohol to cope with life so that we can go to God instead and hash out the never-ending problems that come our way with Him. The Lord is our Shepherd!

Honestly, this relationship with God is the best! He wants to be our Man – our right hand, our go-to in every situation. With my problem from today, I’m asking Him, ‘God, how can I step into this and use it to glorify You even more?’ Being obedient to His direction one step at a time (every moment pausing before reacting and seeking His direction through His Spirit within us), knowing God’s ways are always best! HEEHAW! God’s girl, all the way, baby! God, we pray for your EXTRA strength and wisdom. Amen!

“NEEKS, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING”

That statement from my extremely generous brother, Kevin, led to a beautiful, unplanned vacation in the Bahamas. He paid for my airfare and treated our 90-year-old mom and me (in the pic) to an all-expenses paid trip to the exquisite SLS Baha Mar Resort. He personally went to check us in and left his credit charge to pay all our expenses. Honestly, your girl is back from that trip feeling so incredibly loved by God, who made His Presence deeply felt with me the entire trip.

Starting from that morning before that conversation with Kevin, I accidentally pulled out my swimming shorts. So, when Kevin asked to talk to me about something, I remembered seeing those shorts I used to wear on vacation in the Bahamas and immediately responded, “Talk to me in person! Send me a ticket to come over, please!” My God influencer, Ceri, has been teaching me that God talks to us continually in signs that are everywhere. Me pulling out those swim shorts that morning by accident was God saying, ‘Nik, My girl, I think you need a vacay!’ I did! I’m here back at work, recharged and refocused more than ever to be the greatest of all time person, wife, and mom, on behalf of God Himself! God’s Rockstar, baby!

Ceri has also influenced me to get into Rocky mode, training as if I’m preparing for a big fight – my life is currently one! So, for 50 days, I’m running a 5K (3.11 miles) every day to get myself in a fighter’s stance to take on my life like a professional boxer (don’t play with God’s girl!). That meant the morning before taking an early flight to the Bahamas, getting up and running in the dark. To get to that 3.11 miles, though, I decided to take a more extended route home. Can you believe that as I’m passing my cousin’s house around 5 am, he sent me his daily God devotional text as I’m directly in front of his house? Wow! God completely freaked me out, having my cousin send me his devotional text PRECISELY as I was in front of his home. Our footsteps are ordered by the Lord! God’s spirit told me to take that route home! I went to the Bahamas so happy feeling God’s Presence STRONGLY with me.

A very special God wink happened on the way back as well. I sent a message to my support group that morning while running my 3.11 miles on this gorgeous pier going out into the ocean at the hotel, saying:

“Feeling like God’s fav girl more than ever! Neeks, God wants you to know that you are secure in Him!”

I was referring to Kevin’s message to me one day under my God tree, saying that God wanted me to know I was secure in Him. Fast forward to the plane taking off to leave, I decided to see what God had to say to me in an appointment with Him. Look what incredibly showed up (written as if God was speaking directly to me):

“Remind yourself often that I am the One who makes you secure (Wink! Wink!)—in all circumstances.” – Jesus Always

God went to the trouble to figure out a way to confirm that text message! That was another one of my God winks, with everything lining up too perfectly to be some coincidence, with God reminding me that His invisible Presence is always with me. From texting that message to my support group early that morning (they’re sincerely helping me improve!) to taking off on that flight back home. Never one moment that God is not with us!

God. Thank You for all the love You show us all!!! May we all commit to walking closer with You at every moment. Amen!

“THAT’S TOO MUCH!!!”

That was from my mom a few minutes ago, making me laugh over some messy stuff in my marriage. And if I’m keeping it real with you guys, it really was too much. I always tell you guys how I take the 10,000 punches, but this blow went way too far, and the crazy lady had to come and make a special appearance. I will take this, this, and this, but I can’t take this. Always, though, having constant conversations with God as to what He would have us take or not take — ALWAYS BEING OBEDIENT TO GOD!!! Got that?

“What is Kevin advising you to do?” That’s the question I loved yesterday regarding the whole complicated drama. I responded, “Kevin is advising me to be a wise woman. That I have too many things going on to rock the boat.” So that meant CALMING DOWN, PAUSING, AND SEEKING GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT HE WOULD HAVE ME TO DO. It’s not what crazy lady wants, but what God Himself would have me do. I love the advice of my beloved Mottos for Success calendar that God talks to me through:

“A team player thinks of his teammates whenever he makes a move, and makes decisions according to what is better for the team, not just for himself.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4

So with hubby in deny, deny, deny mode, I said to him today, “Hon, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt. I love you infinity percent. I respect you A LOT. Please, let’s keep it like that.” This husband has truly earned my deep love and respect. Nobody gets it right all the time, says the lady who falls a million times, but in the same way God keeps unconditionally loving and forgiving us, we’re to do the same for others (especially in our homes!!!).

Honestly, even with all this messiness, can you believe today I’m saying a special prayer to God, THANKING HIM FOR EXCEEDING MY EXPECTATIONS? Even the fact that hubby denies everything is a huge blessing. I respect him because he tries to keep his wife and home happy. And like Kevin has taught me, “Neeks, Manny (my husband) takes great care of his family, he respects you, and there is nothing more you can ask for.” In other words, if he has his little side chicks (it is what it is, folks!), pretend you don’t see what you see or hear what you hear and be the glue keeping the home (the entire team) at peace and together. Just keep that s* over there, boo; not in my face. Homie don’t play that!

“STOP SAYING LIFE IS HARD!!!”

That’s my sister, Nora, to me like a broken record all the time. “But it is hard!!!” I answer back! But today, I’m going with Nora because life is all about perspective, baby! My friend, Joey, explained it this way:

“It’s not life. It is not life that can be hard and difficult, things are only difficult because we take it that way, our reactions to life make it hard. Jesus said, “in the world you will have tribulation but BE OF GOOD CHEER.” In other words, how we respond to life will make life easier. It is not life, it is us that need to change.” John 16:33

“Hi my love. R U OK. U R God’s girl!!” That was the cute message from my ninety-year-old mom a short while ago after I called her venting about my day. I assured her that she didn’t have to worry about me for one second because I genuinely believe I am God’s favorite girl. I’m serious! That’s how He honestly makes me feel!

Like talking to Nora last night, she says to me, “DON’T FORGET WHO YOU ARE AND WHOSE YOU ARE!!!” Guys, I started screaming!!! I had just had an appointment with God reading page 91 of our family’s website, and I grabbed my phone to show Nora what was there. PRECISELY ON MY SCREEN WERE HER EXACT WORDS: “DON’T FORGET WHO YOU ARE AND WHOSE YOU ARE!!!” (WINK! WINK!) This is why I’m serious about being God’s fav! How could Nora say the words I left on my phone’s screen fifteen minutes before? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me. That was no coincidence; IT WAS GOD’S WAY OF REVEALING HIS INVISIBLE PRESENCE WITH ME AND WRAPPING HIS ARMS AROUND ME TO SOOTHE MY RUFFLED NERVES. He is pretty talkative once you get to know Him!

Here’s the deal: GOD’S GRACE (His help, love, favor, support, and strength) is with us in every moment to take on whatever challenges come our way. It’s just for us to keep a laser focus on God (not the world and what’s going on around us), asking Him at every moment how to respond and doing our best to be obedient to Him. HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT TO TAKE ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! That’s faith – KNOWING NOTHING IS TOUGHER THAN GOD, AND HE GOT US IN THE PALM OF HIS HANDS!!!

We can be on chill mode for life like my brother, Kevin, has been trying to teach me, not taking anything too seriously and enjoying our lives with God! RELAX AND BE OF GOOD CHEER BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO STANDS WITH US: GOD HIMSELF!!! GOD STRONG, BABY!!!

“FEAR NO ONE!”

That was me to my husband yesterday morning after he finished a call. Fast forward like twenty minutes later, God used that very statement from me to let us know that His invisible Presence was there with us. I was praying to Him in my spirit, asking which book I should read to hubby for an appointment with God. I landed on a book called God’s Promises, filled with Bible verses, and the very chapter I picked incredibly included this:

“The LORD is my light and the one who saves me. I FEAR NO ONE (Wink! Wink!) The LORD protects my life; I am afraid of no one.”

Of all the books for me to choose, of all the chapters, God had my very words “FEAR NO ONE” planted there just to let me and hubby know that He was with us! That was no coincidence, but all tenderly and lovingly planned out by God to brighten our day and give us the peace, comfort, joy, and courage to know that we are not tackling our lives alone. He often tells me that I should let Him be the meaning of my composure! OUR HELP COMES FROM GOD, BABY!

Are you learning God’s voice? The other day, I was debating where to get some critical work done and ended up in our bedroom. As I’m there, a new friend, Vicky, called. I felt God in my spirit, taking my attention to a box of tissues next to my laptop saying, “Vicki: Extra Soft.” Believe it or not, this was God telling me He wanted me to practice being extra soft: loving, merciful, gentle, patient, kind, supportive, and compassionate. His sheep know His voice!

Right before that call, though, I spoke to my daughter, Julie, and she was having a rough moment, so I asked if we could have an appointment with God together. We read a recent post from Ceri about being strong and how God commands us to be strong. I explained to her how we have to look to God in every moment, every circumstance, and every decision, looking at everything from His perspective and not being blown away by every little challenge that comes our way. Julie said it was just how her brain worked, but I told her she has to change her thoughts of knowing our God is with us and for us! Instead of worrying and stressing, we can trust God to do what we can’t do by working on our behalf in the spiritual realm.

Got that? All day, every day, let’s start looking at everything from God’s perspective. That means spending time alone with Him to learn His voice by reading or listening to anything spiritual that brings you closer to Him. Like when He told me what book to read to hubby for that alone time with Him, I felt Him in my spirit directing me. When He again drew my attention to that tissue box, I knew it was Him saying, ‘Nik, this is where I want you right now – EXTRA SOFT!’ And I can say, ‘OK, Boss, I got you!’

I loved a conversation with my brother, Kevin, yesterday when he said this about how being this extra soft and extra loving person may be interpreted:

“Some say stupidly. Some say unconditionally. Some say nicely. Some say foolishly. Whatever word you want to use with it, you use it. And it ain’t about what some say; it’s what makes you feel good about what you do.”

I wrote back, “Being obedient to God is what I do. May His will be done with my life.” He then responded, “Just call it being obedient to God.” And for this God who is doing 10,000 things for me in one second, giving me more than I can ever ask or imagine (HIS WAYS ARE ALWAYS BEST!!!), it’s my honor to live a life trying to be obedient to Him. Even when it’s HARD because He more than makes up for the little stresses and trials He asks me to endure for Him! We all have our crosses, but we can carry them joyfully, knowing God helps us to carry them. When our human strength fails, we can tap into God’s Divine strength to keep going. Amen!