I’M FEELING SO CLOSE TO GOD

HEEHAW!!!! Like early this morning, I called my daughter, Ember, in New York, but she didn’t answer. I needed her help with something very urgent. When she called me back, I was sitting here in front of my computer trying to calm down over everything going on today. “You sound stressed out, mother,” she sweetly said. I gave her a quick update, and then she updated me that she had decided to take her covid booster shot later on that afternoon. Right after she said that, God immediately drew my attention to the picture in front of me. I asked Ember to do a video call so she could see it, too. It was a pic of me, her, and Julie from last year August with a caption saying: I GOT MY COVID-19 VACCINE. (Wink! Wink!)

For Ember to return my call at that exact moment with her mom having that difficult time seated directly in front of that photo was all orchestrated perfectly by God to reveal His invisible Presence with my family and me. It was too perfect to be some ordinary coincidence! And just like that, He melted away all my fears, anxieties, and stresses of the moment, reminding me that He is intimately involved in every moment of my life as if saying, ‘Nik, RELAX, I’m familiar with all your ways, and I am always with you!!!’

And knowing He is intimately involved in every moment gives me the courage to boldly take on my life. Your girl has lots going on, but I know I handle none of it alone. God is with me every step of the way! Today, I’m home with my son, Emmie, who has felt sick for the past few days. My future lawyer son had grilled me intensely at dinner this week when I told them to do everything pleasing to God. I explained to them that this mindset of pleasing God in every moment had led my life on a beautiful path. That God’s favor, love, blessings, help, support, and goodness follow me wherever I go because I try to make pleasing Him my ultimate goal. I said look at us here altogether, happy and healthy; it’s a huge blessing from God. I then ask God what I can do for Him for all He does for me.

We had a little fun, family argument about it. Someone thought making decisions that pleased themselves was the way to a great life, but I explained that my decision to live a life pleasing to God has been the best. After Emmie drilled me about it so intensely, he got sick. I used this to explain to him that good health is also a blessing from God. Emmie is hardly sick, and I was reminded of the doctor’s office telling us that we weren’t there for the last five years. They initially accused me of being a terrible mom, but I explained how great of a mom I am – my kids hardly get sick! But ultimately pointing to God for blessing me with healthy kids and the wisdom to take care of them. Right after explaining that to Emmie, look what showed up in my appointment with God:

“I CREATED YOU TO GLORIFY ME. Make this precept your focal point as you find your way through this day…When you need to make decisions, consider what would glorify me and bring me pleasure. This can help you choose wisely and stay more aware of My Presence…ask me to guide your mind as you think things out. I know everything about you and your situation. The better you know Me, the more effectively I can guide your choices; so endeavor to enhance your knowledge of Me. My word is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path.” – Jesus Always by Sarah Young

I just asked Emmie what will he ask God now before he makes decisions, and he wisely responded, “God, does this please You?’ HEEHAW!!!

“WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE ME AS YOUR WIFE?”

That’s me to my husband waking up to our 20th wedding anniversary! He surprisingly replied, “100%.” “As much as he criticizes me, I expected a 30%! LOL! I gave him a 99.9%. I think God agrees with me because as I type this, He just took my attention to a shirt with a tag still attached to it with a cost of $9.99 (Wink! Wink!). God is pretty talkative! This shirt was a gift from my son, Emmie, filled with roses to remind me of all the beauty in my life and that I must focus on the roses and not the thorns (the negatives!). As I got to my God tree today, I smiled with God and said, ‘We did it! 20 years!!!’ I tell everyone my joke that it is my husband who has brought me closer to God. When he upsets me, I go running to God, ‘God, what is this?!? Help me!!!’

And God has made me realize that I have the best husband. Julie was out with him the other day, and she came back saying, “Daddy works hard for us.” God is constantly reminding me of this verse:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8

So, I just have to keep reminding myself of all the beautiful attributes of my hubs that I love, and when the less than fantastic show their ugly faces, I just have to wipe them off against all his good! God is forever reminding me, ‘Ain’t nothing perfect, girl!

God tells me that it’s me who has to change when I go running to Him. After hubby went all crazy with His criticisms the other day, there were many lessons for me to learn to improve myself. Like under the tree today, God had this to say to me after hubby’s brutal feedback:

“I AM PLEASED WITH YOU, MY CHILD…You don’t have to perform well in order to receive My love (Wink! Wink!).

And that’s where my focus should be, looking to God for His love, acceptance, and approval. I proudly told my hubs and kids that God sees everything I do, and He loves me! I’m God’s girl, baby! I can still look to hubs for ways I can improve, but not being blown to and fro based on his mood of the moment. This morning I got 100%, but you can ask him now, which could be 40%. Humans are fickle! I had to learn that my love and security rest in God. That’s the foundation for every decision I make. I can walk with my head high every day, knowing His love for me is unfailing and unconditional. God’s love and loyalty make me want to return that love and dedication to Him by being the best wife, mom, and person possible, all for His glory! I love this message from an old post:

“God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” – 1 John 4:16

Which is sometimes the hardest part, let me tell ya. That’s when the real badness comes out when we can let go of the hurts, disappointments, distresses, failures, mistakes, and pain and be heroic, staying on the high road, loving, forgiving, non-judgmental, gentle, faithful, and humble people God asks us to be. Not conforming to the world or what anyone else expects of us but simply keeping our lives intertwined with God, constantly asking Him, “What would You have me to do here?” OBEY GOD AND LEAVE THE CONSEQUENCES WITH HIM!!!

“Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people. Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” – Proverbs 3:3-6

Love you, my boo, no regrets! I’m sticking with you and God!!!

“GRATEFUL I HAD ALL THE PATIENCE”

That was my God wink driving to work today through the song Dangerous by Meek Mill. It first showed up under my God tree reading an old post, and when I heard it play through that song, I knew right away that this was a message from God to us all today. This pic of my husband and Julie spending the day together yesterday, and I immediately sent it to my brother, Kevin, thanking him for teaching me this valuable lesson of patience. I even sent him pics of what my meditation book wrote about patience:

“LOVE IS PATIENT. In the apostle Paul’s long list of characteristics of Christian love, the very first one is “patience.” This is the ability to endure adversity calmly-not becoming upset when waiting a long time or dealing with difficult people or problems… I want My followers to lace their love for one another with plenty of patience. This virtue is the fourth trait listed in the fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, My Spirt can equip you to succeed in this challenging endeavor. Remember that I love you with perfect, unfailing love. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you care for others with my bountiful, patient love.”

I had to reload our restrooms at work with my favorite‘ Soft and Strong’ tissue. This is where God wants us, constantly recalibrating on what attribute is needed at every moment:

Like being away from my husband and taking charge of our business here, your girl is learning to be strong, brave, courageous, bold, unflinching, tough, determined, and fearless.

Then sometimes God wants me soft:

“But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.” – Galatians 5:22-23

So all day, we have to keep asking God where He wants us by listening to Him in our spirit and having appointments with Him. I promise you guys that the best life is close to God, listening to His nudges and cues on a moment-by-moment basis and what He would have us do. This pic is proof! My husband had such a great time hanging with Julie yesterday that he asked if she was available again today. I’m grateful I had all the patience, Kevin!!! Forever thanking you for being my guard rails and keeping my life on the right path. (HUGE SMILE)

“WHERE DID YOU FIND THAT PICTURE?”

That was me to my messenger from God/brother, Kevin (that’s him in the pic today!) while out for my morning run. I had called him yesterday morning to help me wrap my mind around some stupid stuff I feel God has asked me to handle. He was busy, but he later sent me this post:

“Learning how to be calm when you’re disrespected is a superpower.” – Unknown author

That was no doubt a God wink!!! The way Chris Rock kept calm when Will Smith slapped him at the Oscars is exactly where God is calling your girl to be right now, on the highest road possible, being His superheroic wife, mother, and person, all for His glory. He is doing so much for my family and me that I say, ‘Anything to please You, let me learn!’

Like this morning, I had given Joshie a tied mask to take to school, but he left it at home and begged me to come inside with him to tie another one. For this kind and sweet son, I said, “No problem!” I dropped them off, and then I went back around to park and walked inside to tie another mask for him. Can you believe that all lined me up perfectly to be at the traffic light again next to the 211 bus I wrote about recently:

“I asked her (Julie) because of how the number 211 has been showing up for us since she saw it at her dream university in New York. I take a picture and send it to her whenever I see it. Even that morning, I stopped at a traffic light directly next to a school bus with this 211, and I sent it to Julie. She got accepted to this university, but we’re waiting for their scholarship offer. We’re thinking this 211 always showing up is a sign from God saying this is the university He wants Julie to attend! May God’s will be done! Amen!”

I sent the pic to her again today, knowing this bus lining up again so perfectly with me was a special God wink to remind us that His Presence is always with us! Julie got the scholarship offer of $29,000 per year, and we do not doubt that this is the university where God wants her.

God’s love is too much!!! That’s why I called Kevin yesterday asking for help in being the person I knew God was calling me to be. I was honestly crying before calling him feeling so hurt. But after he sent me that pic, I jumped out of bed today like I was on a personal superhero mission from God. I was under the God tree dancing today, and look what showed up:

“You teach me patience,” the song also says! And that’s the HARD lesson. To focus on the good of others and allow God to work on the other parts that we’re not so thrilled about. God is patient with us, so we must be patient with others. SUPER TOUGH, but with God’s strength, WE CAN DO ALL THINGS! Let’s do it all for the glory of God, superhero style (Wink! Wink!)!

Not all superheroes wear capes! May we all be God’s superheroes shining bright for Him in this dark world, overcoming evil with good! Amen!

WEROLLWITHGOD.COM

“THANKS FOR BEING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL GUINEA PIG!”

That’s me to my daughter, Ember, recently. She is our first child, and I always tell her that God knew why He sent her to us first. She has set an extremely high bar for the other kids to follow with her excellent example. She confessed that this has put a lot of pressure on her to be that leader for them, but I’m forever telling her how grateful I am for her positive and fierce influence.

That’s why it’s my pleasure to strive to be God’s guinea pig, too. I feel He is teaching me some difficult lessons to then turn around and teach you guys how to tackle life from the all-important God factor. Like I’m enjoying hubby here with us in the US (most of the time!), but sometimes his harsh criticisms get the best of me. And that’s where my relationship with God comes in. I have this bracelet that Joshie gave me, and I wear it to constantly remind myself that in every moment, I’m looking to God for His love and approval, not hubby’s. God’s acceptance is steady and unconditional; hubby’s can go or down up based on his moods, emotions, stress level, and limited human perspective.

This past Saturday, my nephew and his wife popped in to pick up something, and my husband went overboard with the praise for my nephew’s wife but completely threw me under the bus finding so many faults with me. I joked with my nephew that his wife should never come back to our house again. But honestly, it was a reminder that I have to keep my focus on God. That He sees, loves, and approves of me. After 20 years of dealing with my husband’s critiques, this poem from Mother Teresa has been my essential guide in making the best decisions:

“Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.”

That means I will still show up as the most loving, loyal, patient, forgiving, and faithful wife, mother, and person possible because, in the final analysis, everything is between God and me, not between me and anyone else. Don’t look for or expect human praise! “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

But if I’m sincerely honest with you guys, my husband has been a gift to our family despite the harsh criticisms. We watched Kevin Hart’s show on Netflix together late last night. And seeing Kevin work so hard inspired me. I was reminded of how blessed I am to have such a great hubby who doesn’t play around with his role as husband and father, either. I sent a clip to hubs of Kevin saying this:

“I didn’t have this family when I was coming up; now I got one. Look what I did. Look what I built. These people depend on me. I provide for these people. This makes me happy.”

That’s my hubs! God has been opening my eyes to the gift he is to us despite our little dark times we may go through. Kevin helped me to figure out another place where I get it seriously wrong:

“We’re in a time right now where people expect perfection. Perfection doesn’t exist.”

I love the wedding vows Kevin’s wife, Eniko, said to him:

“I unconditionally acknowledge and accept all your faults and strengths, as you do mine.”

As God’s official guinea pig, my prayer is that you guys see hubs and I go through our ups and downs but that we never give up on each other. We unconditionally acknowledge and accept each other’s faults and strengths. It gets hard sometimes, but that’s where my bracelet from Joshie comes sweetly in again. God is my strength, help, wisdom, and support when I am weak. I can talk to Him anytime and get His Almighty perspective no matter the challenge that comes my way. Like today in a moment running to Him, He advised me to be grateful. God, I am!!! (HUGE SMILE)

I COULD WRITE AN ENTIRE BOOK JUST ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY WITH GOD

The way He shows up for me is incredible! I had asked my hubby if my daughter could go somewhere with him in place of me, but he insisted that I go. With everything I had on my plate for the day, I put everything on hold to go with him. Of the entire parking lot, there was one space next to an Infiniti QX60. I told hubby why this car is so special to me after connecting with someone in the Bahamas who wanted to buy one from us. She shared with me that she and her husband went through the same situation hubby and I are currently going through of living separately for three years. She told me how it was difficult for them, but now they were back together. So, whenever I see that specific vehicle, I take it as a message from God that we, too, will survive this difficult period.

Fast forward to hubs and I getting back home, my husband walks in on the last three seconds of a voice note from my brother, Kevin, and he freaks out on me. I told you guys that he was jealous of my relationship with my brother, but I didn’t know it was to that extent. I was forced to open up about some stuff that I was hearing about what was going on in Nigeria without wifey around and how my brother Kevin has been giving me the strength and wisdom to keep going with still being the best wife, mother, and person possible. I even went on my knees, all emotional telling hubby that what he has done for our kids has been such a huge sacrifice, and I’ll be thanking him forever because it hasn’t been easy on either of us. Hubby ended up on his knees, thanking me for being the wife and mother I’ve been. I explained that seeing that QX60 that morning was God saying that just like that couple, we too will get through this. I hugged him and told him that his wife is with him with her entire heart and soul, and no matter what we have to go through, we will go through it together. We ended up going on a date night at our fav Asian buffet restaurant. (HUGE SMILE)

But the reason why Kevin left me that voice note was because my angel/brother had arranged for me to spend some time by the pool of the Hard Rock Hotel with some out-of-town clients. So, I head over there and at the traffic light to turn onto GRIFFIN Road, a customer with the last name “GRIFFIN” flashes me, and her name appears on my phone. I looked at the vehicle directly in front of me, and it had a frame that it was purchased at I-75 at “GRIFFIN.” So, that’s three “GRIFFINS” all lined up perfectly together. I look next to me, and there is a truck with the number “21113” printed on it. “211” has been special to me and my daughter, Julie, because we take it as God leading her to attend a specific university in New York, after we visited back in January, and the number “2011” is engraved on one of the building’s stone. That evening, we got an email from this university offering Julie a scholarship of $29,000 per year for four years. To God be the glory!

When I spoke to the customer with the last name Griffin, can you believe she didn’t even know that she had called me? It was all God getting my attention with those three “GRIFFINS” lining up with the “211” on that truck to say that His Presence is strong with my family and me, and that was the university He wanted Julie to attend.

I know this all sounds crazy, but it’s God’s voice that I’ve come to know. He used that QX60 to message me and hubs that we will get to the other side of this separation thing we’ve been going through. He arranged those three “GRIFFINS” to line up so perfectly to remind me of His deep love for us. He had my husband walk in on the last three seconds of that voice note from Kevin so that we could have that cleansing conversation of everything I’ve been trying to process without losing my mind with the help of God and my brother, Kevin, keeping me strong.
I went out on my run today singing this song to God:

“My whole life has changed
Since you came in
I knew back then
You were that special one
I’m so in love
So deep in love
You make my life complete
You are so sweet
No one competes
Glad you came into my life” Differences by Ginuwine

Don’t miss out; tell God you want a closer walk with Him! He will help you through anything that comes your way! Amen!

TALK TO GOD ABOUT EVERYTHING!!!

That’s the best advice I can ever give you guys! He is quite talkative once you know His voice (HUGE SMILE). Like yesterday was an upsetting one for my daughter, Julie. God doesn’t promise us an easy, breezy life, but He promises to be there for the help and guidance to make it through the difficult days. So, Julie saw a video at one of her college classes that was very aggravating about someone who waited three years for a trial while being locked up in prison but was eventually found not guilty.

My little sweetie was super sad and gave her momma a call to talk about it. I said to her, “Not all superheroes wear capes, boo. You know you’re our future human rights lawyer. It’s what you discussed with the gentleman in your Columbia University interview, asking God where you can make the greatest impact while you are alive to help make the world a better place.”

This morning, I’m driving the boys to school, and look what astonishingly showed up in our Purpose Driven Life Devotional for Kids:

_“Change the World (Wink! Wink!) _

_Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9 _

_Unselfishness plus godly wisdom world equals unstoppable world changer. Yep, you read that right. So just stop being selfish, get the mind of God, and you will change the world… Now, unto the godly wisdom part. God says he gives wisdom generously—lots and lots—to anyone who asks (James 1:5). So start asking… _

Prayer: Lord, am I really capable of being a world changer for you? It seems like such a big job. I am willing and ready.”

This was no ordinary coincidence, but God Himself got in on my conversation with Julie yesterday. Honestly, I was blown away by His PERSONAL attention to what goes on in my family. The fact that out of 365 posts in this book, for Joshie to go directly there this morning even blew the God maniac here away. God spoke directly to Julie: “You didn’t like that video of what that young man suffered, so speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Let’s change the world together. Wink! Wink!’

The love and attention God shows our family is too much! I tell Julie that we’re His fav, but He loves us all as if each of us is His favorite! Incredible! Start talking to Him about everything, and then listen for His answers that show up virtually everywhere! He is quite talkative!!!

The crazy part about this was that Julie called me at exactly 2:11. “Did you call to tell me it’s 2:11?” I asked her because of how the number 211 has been showing up for us since she saw it at her dream university in New York. I take a picture and send it to her whenever I see it. Even that morning, I stopped at a traffic light directly next to a school bus with this 211, and I sent it to Julie. She got accepted to this university, but we’re waiting for their scholarship offer. We’re thinking this 211 always showing up is a sign from God saying this is the university He wants Julie to attend! May God’s will be done! Amen!

But in that conversation with Julie at 2:11, she said something pretty deep. She was at her new, beautiful college campus, and she said, “I can’t get over how God did all this for me through you.” She referred to how God nudged me in my spirit in Nigeria to send an email to her high school in the US asking if she could spend her last year of high school as a college student. She and my entire family turned against me, saying I shouldn’t force her out of high school early, but now she sincerely thanks God and me for the experience. She felt so loved by God, sucking up this stunning campus.

And that’s the love He wants each of us to feel! Keep your focus on God! He has the best plans for our lives! Ask for His wisdom in every aspect of your life! See how He helps me be the best momma! Wink! Wink!

HUBBY IS JEALOUS OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH KEVIN (HUGE SMILE)

And no matter how many times I tell him how this has been such a positive thing for me, he still feels awkward about it. So, I snuggled down next to him today and read him the post where I shared my top six pieces of advice from Kevin/messenger from God:

1.	“NEEKS, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS TO GET CLOSER TO GOD. MAKE HIM YOUR PRIORITY!”

2.	“NEEKS, I WANT YOU TO WORK ON BEING A WISE WOMAN”

3.	“NEEKS, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS TO BE PATIENT RIGHT NOW.”

4.	“MARRIAGE IS LIKE A TEAM. WHEN ONE PERSON IS WEAK, THE OTHER SHOULD BE THE STRONG ONE AND VICE VERSA.”

5.	“IF JESUS CAN ASK GOD TO FORGIVE THE PEOPLE WHO NAILED HIM TO THE CROSS, WHO ARE WE TO WITHHOLD FORGIVENESS FROM ANYONE

6.	“DON’T ASK GOD TO FOLLOW YOU; YOU FOLLOW GOD! BE GOD’S ANGEL!

After all that, he was still not convinced! I further explained that sometimes I question Kevin myself, “Like where do you get this stuff from?” And the only explanation we can come up with is that God speaks directly to me through Kevin. I have no other explanation! I’m supposed to be the God person, but Kevin is the one schooling me about God. It’s just a gift he has and his years of life experiences. My Stargirl on YouTube even said that he is an angel from God sent to help other people. When I look at the reactions to my posts, I’m blown away by the number of people thanking me because of Kevin’s influence: HE MAKES ME STRONG, SO I CAN HELP YOU GUYS TO STAY STRONG, TOO. To God be the glory!

Some more advice from Kevin:

1.	DON’T STOP RUNNING. LIFE IS A WAR, AND YOU NEED THAT ALONE TIME WITH GOD TO STRATEGIZE AND PLAN. Honestly, I meet God under that tree every day, and He finds some way to reveal some glimmer of His Presence with me. That’s what gives me the confidence to take on my life!

2.	“BE ON CHILL AND ENJOY YOUR GORGEOUS LIFE.” In other words, don’t take anything too seriously.

3.	“GOD WILL LEVEL OUT THE MOUNTAINS. DON’T WORRY ABOUT HOW HE WILL, JUST LEAVE THEM WITH HIM.”

4.	“YOU ARE NOT YOUR KIDS’ FRIEND RIGHT NOW. ONE DAY YOU WILL BE, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.”

“HOW DO YOU STAY SO MOTIVATED?”

That was me to my husband yesterday! He goes Hard. Every. Single. Day. He responded, “I do it to protect my family.” See why I say this man is my gift from God? Honestly, anything negative that shows its face in regards to him, I just have to keep swallowing some bitter pills and keep asking God for the strength to be God’s gift back to him, loving him, supporting him, and being the wife, mom, and person God Himself would have me to be. The devil is busy guys; let’s stay focused with our eyes on the prize as I wrote in this old post:

THE PERFECT ADVICE FROM MY TEN-YEAR-OLD SON, JOSHIE

My spiritual guy blew me away when I asked him for some direction yesterday. I had told him about what President Trump’s doctor had responded when asked about the timeline of him testing positive for coronavirus. He said something like, he was not going back to discuss the past, but he was moving forward. Can you believe my little son remembered that when I asked him what he thought I should do about a situation, he said, “Mom, do what Trump (meaning his doctor) said, “Leave the past in the past and move forward!” Thanks, my sweetie! Your mom will definitely take your advice!

Especially after watching the Vice-Presidential debate from Nigeria at 2 am with my daughter, Julie, watching it in the US. My husband came down and joined us later in it. We ended up calling Julie together, and I was reminded that I’m to keep my eyes on the prize – God’s plan for my family. I MUST ignore the distractions that want to pop up and take me off my groove. Like someone correctly advised me, sometimes you must say, “Forget you and the horse you rode in on!!!” To get anywhere in this life we must become PROFESSIONAL IGNORERS (kindly and respectfully, of course), otherwise we waste time fighting useless and unnecessary battles. My eyes are on the prize, baby!

I’m leaving the past in the past, my Joshie, and I’m moving forward confidently with my hope in God, while learning some extremely important lessons for us all. These showed up last night in an appointment with Him:

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

“Do you love me enough that I may be weak with you? Everyone loves strength, but do you love me for my weakness? That is the real test.” – Alain de Botton

And when we love deeply, trust me, our reward is with God. I loved what God also had to say through my meditation book, He and I:

“Don’t you know that I give far more than you expect? Haven’t you noticed this spiritually, materially?”

Yes! God, Yes! And why I’m soooo sticking with You doing whatever is pleasing to You in every moment because you give me FAR more than I could even ask or think – protection, health, wisdom, guidance, and LOVE!!! God, I’m on your team for LIFE, LOVING DEEPLY, and covering LOTS of offenses, all for Your honor and glory! Amen!

NOBODY WILL LOVE YOU BETTER THAN GOD CAN!!!

That’s my message to the entire world today! We expect way too much from other humans, and then we’re hurt, sad, frustrated, and disappointed when they don’t perform up to our expectations. However, God is the complete opposite; He gives us more than we can ever ask or imagine when we stick with Him and make Him our first love, priority, and central focus!!! GOD WANTS A PERSONAL AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU!!! HE IS OUR GREATEST FRIEND EVER!!!

God blows me away with His love and intimate involvement in every aspect of my life. Like yesterday, a young lady sent me a message saying it was her birthday the next day. I told her that my prayer for her was a closer walk with God and that I wish someone had given me that advice when I was her age to develop a personal relationship with Him. She sent me back this message:

“Every day yearning for more of Him just like the deer pants for water.”

That’s what David wrote in Psalm 42:1: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” So, fast forward a few hours later, I go to bed, and I usually fall asleep listening to Dr. Charles Stanley (complete God nerd!). His first sermon to appear at the very top of my YouTube feed was incredibly entitled, ‘Hungering and Thirsting for God.’ Can you believe it was based on this same verse Psalm 42:1? No way this was a regular coincidence out of his massive content of sermons on YouTube for this very one to be at the top of my feed and be based on that very verse. It was God Himself letting both of us know that He sees us and knows our hearts.

But the God wink didn’t stop there! My husband woke me up this morning playing his audio Bible. Of all the verses in the Bible, the very one I woke up to was this one:

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” – Psalm 42:1

Is that crazy or what? I’m talking precisely there, I woke up! I followed my husband downstairs to get coffee asking him why he was listening to that specific Psalm, and he said it was the Psalm his mom read a lot. I was utterly blown away by God. I ended up leaving him because it was too early to be waking up on a Sunday morning (LOL!), and I went back to bed asking God what He was trying to say to me. I felt He answered me through that very sermon from Dr. Stanley.

I felt silly telling this young lady how God was singing to me yesterday, telling me He wants me for Himself, that He is selfish, like that’s how close I’m feeling with Him right now (HUGE SMILE). In that very sermon, Dr. Charles Stanley confirmed this message. Not only does He want me for Himself, but He also wants you too. Here is how Dr. Stanley put it:

“The people whom I formed will declare My praise. “THAT IS, GOD MADE YOU AND ME FOR HIMSELF (Wink! Wink!). EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IS CREATED FOR GOD. And because we are created for Him, He wants us for Himself to love Him and to cherish Him and to honor Him and to obey Him and to serve Him. That’s what we’re here for. Why else did God create you? Just to have a good time in life? No, can you have a good time in life and be a Christian? Absolutely. Have the best time. He created us for Himself. And therefore, because He created us for Himself, what we have to ask is this:

Lord, what are you doing in my life? What part do you play in my life? In other words, is He really the central focus of your thinking? There’s somebody–If you’d ask the average parent, what’s the most important thing in your life? My children. I understand that. It’s just not the right answer. Or my husband. Or my wife. Not the right answer. The most important thing in every single one of our lives is a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. God Himself.

And what we have to ask is: Where does our interest lie? That is, what are our appetites for? What is it that you want in life above everything else? He says, “As the deer pants for the water brook, so pants my soul for you, dear Lord.” Now God’s given us many, many gifts in life and many things that you and I can enjoy. And there’s nothing wrong with those desires and drives that He’s given us in life as long as they are kept in their proper perspective (WHERE YOUR GIRL HERE GETS IS SERIOUSLY WRONG!!!). That the most important thing in your life and my life today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, the last day of our life, is our personal relationship to Him. He desires that you and I hunger and thirst for Him.”

I met my brother, Kevin, quickly yesterday, and I explained that we have to be the highest in the room. Meaning relating to everyone from God’s perspective and pleasing Him as our ultimate and central goal. I told Kevin that the way he has closely supported and stood with me for the past three years, I want to be that person for others, no matter what they’ve done to hurt me. Then, having to give a customer a ride, I passed a church that incredibly said:

“Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast.”

Exactly summing up what I discussed with Kevin, I always want to be that merciful person for God in the world, accepting that we all constantly mess up and make mistakes, but God loves us unconditionally. Holding everyone in their proper perspective as fallible, weak humans fighting our own demons, but still loving them extravagantly and forgiving endlessly, ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. My new mantra is, “Obey God and leave the consequences with Him!!!’ This is how He guides us on the path to the best life with Him! Wink! Wink!