I can’t get over these recent words from my messenger from God/brother, Kevin, when I called him from under my God tree. But what indeed amazes me, though, is the extent God would go to get me to understand that He stands STRONGLY with me in every aspect of my life.

Like yesterday, I was working on a crucial report, and one of the figures shockingly included “811118.” After working all day on it, I left it for a bit to just pray over it and have some conversations with God. A couple of hours later, I was lying next to my son Joshie, asking him the time. He replied, “8:11, and do you want to know why that is a God wink?” I screamed, “That’s a God wink at me!” I took him to my report to see the “811118” going forward AND backward. Wow! God freaked me out that I would ask Joshie what time it was at precisely 8:11 just to let me know He approved of my report. HEEHAW!!!

But can you believe the God wink for Joshie was a friend sitting next to him in his class yesterday who noticed “811” on the board and said to him that “811” is his lucky number? Would God really go to that extent to have that all lined up so perfectly to let me know I was secure in Him? Yup, He is pretty awesome and cool like that! Tell me, how could all that line up on its own to be some random coincidence? From me working on that report all day and for that 811118 to show up, to Joshie’s friend sitting next to him and saying, “811 is my lucky number,” after he sees it on the board, to me lying next to Joshie and asking him the time at precisely 8:11. That’s God’s love and intimate involvement in every moment of our lives!

Are you feeling His Presence with You? Notice He talks to me a lot through numbers and what we would call coincidences just as glimmers of His invisible Presence that is always with us. So that as we face the challenges and problems of life, we know that He is there with us, and we face nothing alone. OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL, AND HE IS WITH US!!! EVEN WHEN WE GET IT WRONG, HE WILL HAVE OUR BACK! He wants to be personally involved in every aspect of our lives, but we must take the time and effort to have a relationship with Him. No shame in my game; I run to God to get His perspective on every decision. Every circumstance. Every relationship. And I pray you do the same. (Wink! Wink!)

I can’t get over Him! The way He figures out these sweet ways to let me know that His invisible Presence is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS with me. Like yesterday, I was doing some work and thought to take a break and have an appointment with God. I saw the number 53 and decided to go to page 53 of our family’s website, and there were two posts there that God used to let me know He is intimately involved in every moment of my life.

The first wink began with me having the best time that morning, singing my heart out to God while playing Justin Bieber’s song ‘One Time.’ Look what amazingly showed up on page 53:

“I LOVE MY LIFE WITH HIM as I’m learning to enjoy His company in every moment. Yesterday, that meant singing my heart out to Him in Justin Bieber’s song, One Time:

“So we keep climbing to the mountain top. Your world is my world. And my fight is Your fight. You by my side, them troubles them not trouble me. I LOVE YOU!””

Like God was saying, ‘Nik, I saw you this morning singing this song to Me!’ No coincidence that out of 129 pages, I went specifically to THAT page to see THOSE lyrics that I sang to God THAT morning.

Next, my sweetie pie daughter, Julie, came and asked where I wanted my Minnie Mouse stool that they steal from me sometimes. I pointed somewhere, saying that stool is where I go when I’m having stressful moments and need to talk to God. Again, look what incredibly showed up on page 53 hours after that conversation with Julie:

“Like as I type this, I have my computer on top of a Minnie Mouse stool in a little, quiet corner of our home, which is extremely full at the moment. But this stool has been my go-to spot to meet with God whenever I’m having a rough moment, and believe it or not, He comes to comfort me.”

Again, this was God’s way of letting me know that He is with me in every moment, every conversation, every thought I think, every song I sing, He is always with me. I get to wake up every day saying I’m His Rockstar wife, mom and person! This is where I find true joy, peace, and fulfillment, knowing I handle nothing alone and that God is with me at every moment, helping me, guiding me, loving me (He makes me feel as if I’m His favorite girl!) and giving my life such purpose and meaning.

“Sorry, I’m not the fun mom,” I said last night to my daughter, Ember. But I’m in love with my quiet and simple life with God. This is the life I’ve designed with Him, and I wouldn’t trade for anybody else’s. Yes, I have some stuff where I definitely know I can improve in and some crosses He asks me to carry, but that’s all a part of my journey and evolution with God. He is the greatest friend ever because He helps me be better by lovingly having situations come up that force me to really look deep inside myself to figure out where I’m going wrong without looking for drugs, alcohol, or anything else of coping with my life. I go to God.

Make sure you are having your alone times with Him! Take some time every day reading or listening to something that brings you closer to Him. God is quite talkative, but you have to take time to hear what He has to say specifically to you and only to you. See how He found those ways to remind me that His Presence is with me reading page 53 because I took a few minutes to say, ‘God, I want to hear from You.’ Don’t miss out, the best life is close to God!!! We need Him!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

That was me to my brother/angel from God, Kevin, under my God tree today. He has been my crucial guard rail for the past three years, helping me make some pretty significant decisions. I had called him to tell him how my daughter, Ember, got a chance yesterday to witness how his advice to me has paid off. My daughters often question my decisions as to why I’m always the first to apologize to their dad, even if he was the one wrong, looking at me as some “weak” woman. Yesterday, Ember got to see that her mom was actually being very wise, as Kevin has been teaching me to be, choosing her battles wisely and leaving the insignificant ones to God.

Someone had called me requesting some information, and I needed to call my husband. We talked about the girls, and seeing him not playing around with his responsibility as their dad just blew me away. After telling Ember about the conversation, I asked her, “Now do you see why mom apologizes even when I’m not in the wrong. Your dad may have his ways, but he is truly God’s gift to our family. That’s why I’ve been teaching you to overwhelm him with your love and respect.”

Your girl here has become a professional at swallowing some bitter pills and taking emotionally painful punches, but I feel that’s my special role from God (Me a soldier!). To be the glue that’s keeping my family together and at the same time show you guys that love can still exist within imperfections. Love is a decision that we can make every day despite whatever has happened in the past, and we do it all for God. Hubby certainly puts up with the crazy God lady here who writes posts sharing all our family drama with the world!

“Obey God and leave the consequences to Him,” was the advice of Dr. Charles Stanley that I want us all running with. His ways are definitely not our ordinary human ways; they are so much better. He exceeds my expectations giving me more than I can ever ask or imagine when I follow His leading. That conversation with hubs yesterday really brought that reality home, ‘Nik, you are blessed!’

That’s why it’s so important to learn God’s voice for yourself. Like the “311” that has been showing up from Him to remind me to stay on the high road with Him, and again, making that decision every day to be still and show up as the best wife, mother, and person, leaving the battles with Him, has paid off tremendously. Sounds crazy that God would say all that through the number “311” but that “311” has beautifully guided me. God is pretty talkative, and I want us all to get to know Him better and His voice to understand the people He is calling us to be.

Like right after talking to Kevin about how thankful I was for him teaching me to be patient AND reading about how prayer and patience go together under my tree with God, I got in my car to go home, and exactly at that moment, the very lyrics on the radio at precisely that moment was ‘Grateful I had all the patience,’ by Meek Mill. Wink! Wink! That lined up too perfectly to be a coincidence! It was all orchestrated by God to let me know that His invisible Presence is always with me as I take on this superheroic mission on His behalf. Also, His fun, sweet, and playful personality to have THAT song of all songs in the world playing on the radio at that very moment.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

Let’s all be God’s superheroes doing everything for His glory, especially in our homes. This is how He guides us on the paths to the best life with Him as our Guide and Partner. Not always easy, but His Presence will be there to give us the strength, courage, and wisdom to get through anything. Grateful I had all the patience!

THIS IS THE GREATEST NEWS EVER!!!

We have God’s Presence continually with us in every single moment of our lives!!!! Are you getting this crucial message that we don’t have to handle the ups and downs of life alone?!? This is my special assignment from Him to share with you the most valuable information of your existence that God is with us, for us, and on our side. It’s just for us to develop a relationship with Him and make Him our first love and priority. Then, tap into His voice all day, asking what He would have you do in the 1,000 decisions you make. You handle whatever He asks you to the best of your ability, then you leave the rest to Him to take on in the spiritual realm on your behalf (Wink! Wink!) Let me tell ya, God is an expert in everything!!! But enough from me, I loved this message from Dr. Charles Stanley yesterday, who has tremendously increased my faith in God (HUGE SMILE):

_“”I’m going to be with you.” _

So, the important thing is that we recognize that God is going to guide us in whatever He tells us to do. You think about all the decisions you have to make in life and think about decisions that pop up that you and I don’t even plan on, things that we don’t even have any details about. But He says, “I will guide you.”

That’s a promise that belongs to every single child of God, that you can’t bring up any issue that He doesn’t know all about it. You can’t bring up any question He doesn’t have an answer for. And He’s not going to say, “Well, maybe. “He’s not going to say, “Well, I’ll think about it, “and, “I forgot that. “GOD WANTS TO BE PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN EVERY SINGLE AREA OF YOUR LIFE, because He knows you and I live in a world that’s wicked, vile, corrupt, you name it, and Satan is our enemy. And therefore, God wants to be involved in every aspect of our life.

Then there’s a third thing that’s important here, and that’s this, and that is there should be many times in life when there’s a time of personal worship and meditation in our life, seeking His guidance and direction. And the more critical the decision, but the more time you and I should be spending in doing what? Just what we’re talking about here: meditating upon His Word. What did He say? How does He operate? And that more than likely, you and I will never come to a place in life where we think, “Well, I’ve got that down. “When somebody is all that cocky about their understanding of everything, you better watch out. Because, listen, times change, things change. God doesn’t change. But God, listen, God may change our sense of direction.
He may change what we’re doing.”

Got that? GOD WANTS TO BE PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN EVERY SINGLE AREA OF YOUR LIFE. It’s just for us to invite Him in. Say this prayer with me: ‘God, I want a closer walk with You.’ Then start having quiet times with Him reading or listening to anything spiritual that you feel brings you closer to Him. I try my best to go to my tree where I meet God every day, and not one moment there is wasted. I may run there so overwhelmed, but by the time I get back home, you should see me happy dancing, knowing that God is with me to take on whatever comes my way during the day. HEEHAW!!!

Like right now, I’m back and forth between writing this and working along with my fierce daughter, Ember, to solve a problem. I told her that it’s God guiding her mom as to where the issues are and that she should never forget that He is there to guide her. God is even an expert in computer software! All these different solutions and ideas are coming up as we take on the challenge step by step, and we’re slowly tackling it, by the grace of God!

There is a song that’s always playing on the radio, ‘Easy On Me,’ by Adele. And I always tell God I don’t want Him to go easy on me because I want to be His top soldier, learning all the difficult lessons He would have me to know so that I can come here as His Rockstar to pass these valuable lessons on to you guys. No problem, God, I got You! Wink! Wink!

This is a tough assignment at times, though. And yesterday was a terrible day where I let the sad and depressing thoughts get the best of me AGAIN. Hey, I’m still human! But like I told a neighbor today, these humiliating knockdowns are from me thinking about the wrong things, but knowing is half the battle. That’s why it’s called the battlefield of the mind. I’m literally my own worst enemy when I allow my mind to dwell on the unpleasant things of life and have a negative focus. And the most challenging part is God telling me I must be silent about everything and control my emotions. GOD, THIS IS HARD!!!

But let me tell you the sweetness of God. It was my Joshie’s birthday yesterday, and he insisted that we go to Dave and Buster’s. So, I had to take him and some friends in all my sadness. My daughter Julie came with me, and in wanted to show her something, I went and open my meditation book, He and I, written as if God was speaking to me and He had this to say:

“Aim to the best of your ability. Isn’t it for God? Why should you give up? My very little girl, YOU MUST BEGIN TO BE HAPPY TO SUFFER FOR ME.”

I knew right away that this was a direct message from God to me on this miserable day I was having. God, I’m happy to suffer for You! Don’t go easy on me!!!

And that’s my message for you guys today, God does ask us to suffer sometimes for Him. Life isn’t always easy, and God does ask us to do some hard things at times. Still, when I look around at all He is doing for me, I must put on God’s whole armor and do everything for His glory. No matter what anyone else is doing, I want to aim to be obedient to Him, even if it means taking the insults and keeping silent.

This is my prayer for us all stolen from Joel Osteen:

‘God, Help us to ignore insignificant distractions that try to keep us from Your best.’ Amen

Today, I’m enjoying working with my daughter, Julie. I’m sucking up every moment with her before she leaves for university in New York shortly, by the grace of God. She’s a huge example of why I say everything is between God and me, not between me and anyone else. I told her that I promised my daughter, Ember, no more crazy momma. These fierce daughters deserve the best mom to show up for them.

Ember stayed late with me the other night at work to help me, and I was so impressed at how she handled the assignment. Hubby called and said I should teach them everything I know. That day’s lesson was that sometimes you have to suffer and endure complex stuff. I made her go hard and long because I’m preparing her for life, and sometimes you must ENDURE without giving up. Today, it’s Julie’s turn to learn this vital lesson.

The struggles are real, but God is there to help us through anything!!! Even the sufferings!!! That’s why He invites us to come with all our burdens to Him, and He will give us rest. Look how He found a way to cheer me up yesterday, asking me to be happy to suffer for Him. God, for all that You are doing for my family and me, anything to please You, let me learn.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone.” – Galatians 6:9-10 NLT

That’s God’s promise to me in this verse that has carried me through so many challenges:

“Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, BE ASSURED I WILL HELP YOU; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’” – Isaiah 41:10 AMP

And help me is what God is doing ALL DAY, EVERY DAY! Like yesterday, I discussed with someone in Nigeria how we would find suitable candidates to fill some crucial positions to assist my faithful husband who goes overboard in his love and support of us (thanks, my boo!). We posted a listing with a popular site, but were disappointed by the low number of responses.

A few hours later, I got a message from someone who doesn’t even work with us anymore saying, “I thought to place advert on another site, and they’ve been responding. I will send resumes in batches as they come.” And today we’ve talked to so many of those candidates. Let me tell ya, anything I’m concerned about, it’s a concern for God. When I saw that text from her, I was amazed at how intimately God is involved in our lives because it was as if she was in that earlier conversation. I took it as God saying, ‘Don’t worry, My Nik, you need candidates; here you go.’ This person was overwhelmed by the responses within minutes of placing the ad. God is truly at work in the spiritual realm on our behalf!

God even got involved with an argument that I’m having with my daughter, Ember. She was thinking of transferring to another university, and I point blank told her, “No way! That’s the university God Himself picked for you! You see those two huge 117 signs at your gate? That’s His way of letting us know that this is where He wants you.” 11 and 7 together has been the way God communicates with Ember and me that His invisible Presence is with us.

So, you know teenage daughters. She wasn’t accepting that! So, in trying to hustle and sell a car, I had her drive like 40 minutes to pick up a part. She gets there, and unbelievably the sales tax for the part came to exactly $7.11. The next day, I was out with my brother Jason and remembered that I needed a charger. Of all the options, I picked one and go to the cashier to pay. The total with taxes came to $17.11. I sent her the pic asking. Does this prove that God Himself wants you at that university, not your mom trying to control you? That now changed the conversation to her excitedly telling me about an interview she has tomorrow for an internship for when she returns. That’s what I’m talking about! My help comes from the Lord, baby!

“Someone wants to have a date with you?” she told me late one night. I asked who wants to go out with me? It was her friend who has been like an angel to my daughter guys. I honestly started crying talking to her on the phone. She is such a positive friend who studies with Ember in the library and they both are positive influences on each other. She provides my daughter with such support, love, and friendship.

In Florida, the girls pay a lot of money to have their hair braided, Samira braids Ember’s hair for free, keeping her looking so pretty for us. Ember finished her first semester with a 3.87 GPA out of 4. I kept staring at her grades of all A’s and one B+ just thanking God for everything is doing for us. It was Him who wanted her there and made it happen after my husband insisted that Ember could not go to New York. God had the final say, and Ember didn’t disappoint us. Proud of you boo! God knew why I needed you first to set such a fine example for your siblings.

Make sure you are seeking God in every decision. Every circumstance. Every relationship. Obey Him and leave the consequences to Him.

“Move on your dreams without the fear of failure, without the fear of disappointment, without the fear of lack of support, but instead with a new attitude of courage.” – Unknown

That was me to my daughter, Julie, this morning, as we started working on a project together. I’m embarrassed that my daughters are seeing a not too pretty side of their mom, but I explained to Julie that despite all my weaknesses, failures, and mistakes, God continually tells me that He is pleased with me despite how I may perform.

Fast forward about an hour later, I said to Julie that we should go up the street and get some coffee. We take a quick walk over, and we got our pick-up order as number 52. While waiting, I suggested to Julie that we read page 52 of our family’s website. Look what incredibly showed up in this old post from over a year and a half ago:

“YOU DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY TO ME ALL DAY!!!”

I lost it with hubby yesterday! Of all days, the anniversary of our first meeting, nineteen years ago, he harshly criticized me, saying what a problematic CROSS I’ve been to him. I was furious! I came home and immediately went to my daughter’s room to continue my work for God, and right away, God had me to read the caption from a recent post: “GOD IS PLEASED WITH YOU.”

It went on to quote from my Jesus Calling, my appointment with Him: “I AM PLEASED WITH YOU, MY CHILD…You don’t have to perform well in order to receive My love.””

Wow! For me to have that conversation with my daughter telling her that God tells me that He is pleased with me despite my screw-ups, and for us to sit down there to have an appointment with Him on page 52, the same 52 as our order number, and for Him to confirm what I had just told Julie an hour before, shows how intimately God is involved in every moment of our lives. He is with us always!!

But God really blew me away this morning when I was out on my run with Him and decided to stop the Nike Running Club app prematurely. I looked at my phone, and it had tracked my cadence at 117. I then go to page 117 of our family’s website. As I’m reading page 117, I got a WhatsApp message on my phone from a friend that incredibly said:

“117 (Wink! Wink) !has been showing up extremely a lot for the last few days.”

It was as if that friend was there with me knowing I had stopped to read page 117! No coincidence, but God finding another way of letting me know that His Presence is with me wherever I go.

Are you feeling God’s sweet presence with you? I’m with David who wrote this:

“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.” – Psalm 139:7-10

For me to have so much on my plate right now, and for God to find all these different and fun ways to let me know that I’m not handling life alone, gives me such peace, joy, and courage. Just tell Him that you want in, too, a closer walk with Him, and start making your relationship with Him a priority.

Like God wanted us to spend some time together and I thoroughly enjoyed it! So funny that Jason is trying to convince me to be more like him (business-minded) and I’m trying to convince him to be more like me (God and family-focused). But in trying to explain my values to him, I realize how much I love being a wife, mom and Rockstar for God in the world. I wouldn’t change anything! I LOVE MY LIFE!!! Even the bad and difficult parts I accept as part of God’s plan to help me be the mature, loving and confident in Him woman He would have me to be.

Jason is my brother who introduced me to my husband over 20 years ago. I kept telling him at first that I wasn’t interested, but Jason insisted that we meet. The very next day after he came to the Bahamas to go to a concert with me, he got down on his knees and prayed, “God, thank you for helping me find my wife.” Five months later we were married. I have no doubt that God Himself was behind Jason’s insisting that he should introduce us.

Today as I sat having lunch with Jason and our four kids I said, “See what you did?” God has truly blessed us beyond our expectations. Thank You, God and Jason for the hook up. (HUGE SMILE)

Jason doesn’t agree with all my decisions, though. He would like me to be more independent in making decisions, but I explained that’s my role to play from God, to be the supportive wife/Vice President at the service of President hubby, following his lead. That decision has worked out well for us. Hubs has led us to a great place. Here and there I choose my battles based on conversations with God, but I thank God for His wisdom and guidance in helping me become the wife He would have me to be and not conforming with the world’s definition.

Like I heard a celebrity say she wasn’t interested in pain, but pain is a part of the deal when you make a vow for better or worse because nobody’s perfect and we all make mistakes. I write off hubs disappointments against all his good characteristics (there’s so much good) I love and adore and I keep going. I swallow some bitter pills when necessary and he does the same for me when I mess up.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8

And today, sitting with Jason and our four kids, I’m grateful to God for helping us to get here where we’re even looking forward to better days ahead of us, all by the grace of God. Amen!