That was my daughter, Julie, having some fun with me after I thanked her for this old post that greatly encouraged me yesterday:
“This life is too hard to do it on our own!!! I was so happy when Julie and I spoke about having courage, and at that point, she became my teacher. She said something like, “IT’S JUST ABOUT LIVING LIFE KNOWING YOU HAVE GOD’S PRESENCE CONTINUALLY WITH YOU PROTECTING YOU, GUIDING YOU, AND HELPING YOU. THAT YOU’RE NEVER ALONE.”
I’m the God maniac here, but my seventeen-year-old is the one teaching me about having more FAITH in God! But honestly, today I woke up with such strong confidence in Him doing exactly what Julie taught me: “IT’S JUST ABOUT LIVING LIFE KNOWING YOU HAVE GOD’S PRESENCE CONTINUALLY WITH YOU PROTECTING YOU, GUIDING YOU, AND HELPING YOU. THAT YOU’RE NEVER ALONE.”
So, even with all the heavy burdens that are trying to overwhelm me at the moment, I’m politely giving the heavier parts over to God to handle in the spiritual realm, while I do my best in the physical realm with the lighter stuff. Our God is faithful! I follow His nudges, cues, and solutions that magically pop to mind as the direction to take, and I confidently leave the rest with Him. This is His invitation to all of us:
“Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30, New Century Version
That’s my testimony! Even though the problems are trying to overwhelm me right now, I’m sticking with God! The wisdom, support, and favor from Him have guided my life on an excellent path. He is my Partner, Protector, Healer, Guide, Friend, Strategist, Counselor, Teacher, Helper, and EXTREMELY LOVING FATHER. I give every moment my best by continually seeking Him and what he would have me to do.
I love how His ways are not the world’s ways; they’re so much better! Once I put His perspective on everything, I’m good, but boy oh boy, without Him, I’m INSANE. Like I was teaching my daughter, Ember, something crucial about relationships. She was a little bit hurt and disappointed by her dad, and I said, “I want you to overwhelm him with love and appreciation. He has gone way beyond what any other father would have done for you! You can’t look at a small thing and get upset. Look at the big picture!”
As I spoke to her, I was talking to myself! God has changed my thinking from looking at my husband’s faults and failings to one of, ‘Wow! I’m so blessed to have this awesome man as my husband.” He came home last night from work to cook for us! When I told him today that I just want to make my husband happy, he said, “And I just want to make my wife happy!” I’ve learned to overlook by pretending I don’t see what I see and I don’t hear what I hear, and instead focus on the positives ((he does the same for me!), WITH THE HOPE THAT OUR BEST DAYS ARE STILL OUT AHEAD OF US. Amen! That goes for all our significant relationships!
DON’T MISS OUT! Get God involved in every aspect of your life by making time to have appointments and alone times with Him READING OR LISTENING TO ANYTHING SPIRITUAL OR UPLIFTING. Trust me, not one moment with God is ever wasted!!! We need Him! This life is too hard to do on our own!
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
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HEALTH MATTERS
DAY 120 OF 365 DAYS OF DISCIPLINE!
DISCIPLINE IS THE WAY…
God is working on me to up my discipline game by focusing more and becoming less distracted. I love some motivation from Julie’s bedroom:
▪ “Love the life you live and live the life you love” – Bob Marley
▪ One day you life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.
▪ If you don’t like the road you’re walking on, pave a new one.
▪ Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.
I questioned my daughters yesterday after they called, asking if they could go for a run in a nearby park. I wasn’t expecting this response (I paraphrase here): “Mom, you were the one who kept saying, “Let’s do hard things!” You’re so brave. You’re fearless! We see you running through bushes, over snakes, doing challenging things. We’re following you.” Wow! And that confirmed my change of perspective on this rough year!
Earlier that day, I felt God speaking to me through a “Suckcess Run” with Coach Bennet of the Nike Running Club. He talked about perspectives and how we can look at our failures from a different angle. So, here I’ve been thinking what a mess up I’ve been this year of what felt like a million falls, and thanks to Coach Bennet, I flipped it, feeling God had this to say, ‘Wow, Nik, you did some hard things for Me. You’re my little superhero. You might have fallen, but you were resilient, you kept getting back up. And you kept focused on building a closer relationship with Me. Great job! We have a lot to celebrate here!”
Then hearing my daughters remind me that they were watching their momma take on this challenging year was the icing on the cake. Not only did they see me, but I also shared with you guys how God would show up in every one of those falls to let me know He was with me.
And that’s the best perspective change ever. Knowing God is with you in the good times and the hard times. He has your back no matter how many times you fall and fail, and He loves you unconditionally no matter how many times you mess up. This year also importantly taught me that this is what He expects us to do for others – love unconditionally.
I love how God uses my husband to teach me all these love lessons to pass on to you guys. I told him today that all I know and all I need to know is that he is the best husband in the world. We may have our dark nights, but we rise up again with the hope that our best days are still ahead of us. We remain loyal to each other no matter what we go through. In fact, these difficult times seem to bring us even closer together. Go figure! Like we can go through the toughest times, survive, and recommit to getting even better TOGETHER! God’s ways are not our ordinary human ways; they’re so much better!
Are you getting CLOSER to Him? Say this prayer with me, ‘God, I want a closer walk with You.’ Then start having alone times seeking Him and asking Him to be a part of the 1,000 decisions you make every day, seeking to make Him happy. I promise you, the best life is close to God!!!
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
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YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE DAY
GOD TURNS MY BAD INTO SUCH GOOD
https://youtu.be/koU3tmcAGW8
LIVE IN GOD, LIVE IN LOVE
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HEALTH MATTERS
DAY 119 OF 365 DAYS OF DISCIPLINE!
DISCIPLINE IS THE WAY…
I’m seeing my Rockstar for God, Devon Franklin, a lot lately and I’m reminding myself that I’m His Rockstar, too! Just need to up my discipline game up so that I can be about sharing this great message with the world that we’re rolling with a God who is with us! May we all live passionate lives making Papa God proud! Amen!
“LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE AND MEDICINE THY FOOD”
“AIN’T WORRIED ABOUT NOTHING, MAN!”
God has this way of turning all my bad into such good! Like 2020 was looking like my worst year until I said I’m going to flip the script and turn it into my best year by using it as an opportunity to get closer to God. That plan was a huge success! I’m His girl now, first and foremost, and I’m going to Him more than ever, seeking His perspective on every situation, every circumstance, every conversation, every thought, and every action seeking to please and glorify Him (NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT I KEEP AT IT!).
I refer to 2020 as the year of a million falls, but with every one of those falls, I went running to God like a little cry baby, and HE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME. He would figure out some way for me to pick up some tiny glimmer of His invisible Presence with me. That meant lots of running to my meditation books and werollwithgod.com begging to hear from Him. He would always lovingly appear. It could just be one word, but I’ll know it was Him, like in this old post:
“I’m acquiring the beautiful habit of always being with God, and I’m enjoying Him. Yesterday, we had a situation with a vehicle that was “SWERVING” to the right when you drive it. After test driving it for myself, we called a shop to take it to for repairs. Right after talking to the shop, another issue came up with a customer who purchased a vehicle from us last week and the bank that’s financing her. I thought, ‘God, what is this?’ and I rushed to read my meditation book to hear from Him. This verse showed up:
“Let us hold UNSWERVINGLY (WINK! WINK!) to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23
_Did you catch that God wink? The vehicle was SWERVING, and the verse said let us hold UNSWERVINGLY (meaning not changing or becoming weaker; steady or constant) to the hope we profess. Call me crazy, but that was God’s way of having some fun with me and His way of letting me know everyt_hing would be fine with that customer and the bank. And it was. Our God is faithful!”
So, I want you here with me, coming closer and closer to God. It’s a prayer I said over thirteen years ago, asking God for a closer walk with Him, and He hasn’t disappointed me. He gives me so much more than I can ever ask or expect. Challenges come up, and He is right there to stand with me as if asking, ‘Who is messing with my Nik!’ I know without a doubt that He is the one fighting for me and MAKING MY DREAMS COME TRUE! Can’t beat that! MY HOPE REMAINS IN GOD!
Will you say this prayer with me, ‘God, I want a closer walk with You?’ and then start paying attention to glimmers of His Presence that can show up virtually anywhere and His nudges and cues in your spirit as to what He would have you to do. It’s a practical experience of learning His voice. Please check out our family’s website werollwithgod.com to learn all about rolling with God on the daily!
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
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HEALTH MATTERS
DAY 118 OF 365 DAYS OF DISCIPLINE!
DISCIPLINE IS THE WAY…
RUN TO GOD! Whenever you feel stressed, frustrated, sad, or out of sorts, PRAY and ask for His perspective on the situation. He’s an expert in everything! Love me some discipline that taking me closer to God! Heehaw!
“LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE AND MEDICINE THY FOOD”
GOD IS SO COOL AND DOWN TO EARTH
I’m a pretty tough momma, so whenever my kids complain to me about feeling pain somewhere, I simply respond, “Pain is a part of life, sweetie! Get over it.” So, today, with the pain I’m feeling in my knee from my running up and down the stairs of our house, I kept going. Professional athlete style, baby! No pain is going to hold us back! Yesterday, my phone pulled up a photo memory of a year ago when I took a picture of the T-shirt of someone I randomly bumped into at the store that said, “There is no end to the pain. You must be numb.” When we both met again at the ice-cream section looking for the same brand and flavor ice cream, I knew it was a message from God to me regarding some emotional pain and hurts I was feeling. God is pretty talkative!
So this morning, in venting to God AGAIN about this same pain (He keeps telling me to vent anything to Him, but to others, I should be silent!), I felt Him having some fun with me in my spirit, mockingly and funnily like I repeat to my kids, ‘Pain is a part of life, sweetie! Get over it. There is no end to the pain. You must be numb.’ God, very funny!
That’s the sweet and cool side of God I’ve come to know and love. He meets us exactly where we are and gives us His perspectives on handling difficult and awkward situations. I’m talking in every aspect of our lives, He is a total expert. That’s why I love these runs where I get to vent, strategize and focus, getting God’s wisdom on how to deal with matters that I need His assistance with wrapping my head around.
His advice never fails! Whenever I look back, I see that His ways are always best. In fact, better than best because He always exceeds my expectations. I’m sticking with my brother Kevin’s advice, “Neeks, I want you to work on being wise.” For me, that means going to God and continually asking,
“Jesus (God), what is your perspective on every moment of my life? Every relationship. Every decision. Every circumstance. And how can I enter into it to glorify you.” – Dr. Drew Sams (Bel Air Church)
NOT ALWAYS EASY! BUT ALWAYS BEST! Start pausing and inviting God to be a part of every moment of your life and every move you make, seeking to please, honor, and glorify Him. Not letting the disappointments, challenges and setbacks discourage us but keeping our eyes fixed on God who can guide and navigate us safely through any troubled waters. Off to go between watching Netflix with hubs and studying with my super intelligent and wise son, Emmie. Doing everything for the glory of God! Amen!
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
***
HEALTH MATTERS
DAY 115 OF 365 DAYS OF DISCIPLINE!
DISCIPLINE IS THE WAY…
I can’t stop thanking some of my siblings who are a part of a group we call ‘A GOD ALLIANCE’ with me. Never underestimate the value and influence of the people you have in your life. This group gets me to the starting line of a run every day where I can vent to God, get His incredible perspective and wisdom on my life, and leave every run better than I started. Just so I can have a pic to share with them that I completed a run from my Nike Running Club app. THANK YOU, MY PEEPS!!! You’re helping to make your sister better! Forever grateful for our alliance! May we all do BIG things for the glory of God!
“LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE AND MEDICINE THY FOOD”
“I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU WHEN I GROW UP”
That was surprisingly my ten-year-old son, Siah, to me yesterday! “Are you being serious? Or are you messing with me like your dad does when he says that?” He said he meant it. And when I asked him what about my life that he likes, I was utterly blown away when he replied, “Your closeness to God… Like how God arranged the Justin Bieber concert for you.”
And if my son and I are the only ones who believe that God loves me that much to have Justin Bieber perform live, minutes away from my house, on my birthday, all the songs I felt God spoke to me through him, to comfort me during a very rough year last year, I’m OK with that. I want my kids knowing that they are not going through life alone, “God DEY!” as they say in Nigeria, to help them go through any rugged and rough terrain. Heehaw!
That was my message to my daughter, Ember, around 3 am this morning. She is in the US, while I’m in Nigeria, and when I woke up, I remembered that we hadn’t spoken the day before. I sent her a text asking if she was OK and when she responded, “no,” I quickly called her. She’s struggling with an advanced level class, and I told her about my last YouTube video where I told the world about how God said to me through Justin Bieber’s song, “I’M AVAILABLE,” and how I run to Him in all my challenges and low moments. That He is also available to her 24/7 to pray and ask for His guidance on what to do.
Right after our talk, I hung up and felt a nudge from God to have an appointment with Him. I opened up, The Purpose Driven Life for Kids, and it asked if I wanted to go to a page in the book that it was opened to on another device. I clicked yes, and it astonishingly took me to Day 117 entitled, ‘ALWAYS AVAILABLE (Wink! Wink!).’ This lined up too perfectly to be some ordinary coincidence. Less than a minute after I said to my daughter that God’s available to help, He confirmed it! That was His sweet way of letting us know that His invisible Presence is always with us. My fairytale love affair with God continues (HUGE SMILE)!
Ember is on a streak with God, reading this kid’s devotional, and today will be her day 117 of it, which made the wink even sweeter because whenever I see the numbers 11 and 7 together, it’s my little cue from God to remind me that His Presence is right there with me. That I can go through life knowing He goes before me, stands with me, and goes ahead of me to level the mountains I’m facing. He is pretty awesome like that! He is available for you too! Just start seeking Him like my Ember is doing in her daily appointments with Him and then going to Him all day long for His guidance, support, strength, and love.
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
***
YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE DAY
HEALTH MATTERS
DAY 117 OF 365 DAYS OF DISCIPLINE!
DISCIPLINE IS THE WAY…
Let’s make every thought obedient to God! Continually seeking His perspective on everything, KNOWING He is always with us!
That was me to my fierce daughter, Ember, yesterday. I wanted to call her, but I said I know my personality gets a bit overbearing, so I resisted. Within five minutes, she was the one calling me. That’s my boo! I told her about my lonely life of feeling rejected by other people and thinking I have to be less of myself to be accepted. But how God told me recently in an appointment with Him that I’m never too much for Him, and that I should never dim my light just because others think I’m too bright. He tells me, ‘NIK, SHINE EVEN BRIGHTER!’ Yes, Boss!!!
I told her what an inspiration she is to me. She has already gotten accepted at a top university in New York along with almost $30,000 per year in scholarship monies. Her dream is to intern at one of the leading firms on Wall Street while still attending college full time. Talk about being too much, that’s her! My daughter for sure! “I’m coming with you!” I tell her. I want to meet with New York publishers to take my message from God to the next level. Whoop! Whoop!
I can’t stop thanking her for telling me about Justin Bieber’s concert that’s going to be held minutes away from our home in Florida ON MY BIRTHDAY. No coincidence! It was God arranging this for His fav girl here (maybe this is why I don’t have too many friends – referring to myself as God’s fav girl! LOL!) But I play Justin Bieber’s song ‘Favorite Girl,’ and I imagine Him singing these lyrics to me:
“My favorite, My favorite, My favorite
My favorite girl, My favorite girl
You’re used to going out your way to impress these Mr. Wrongs
BUT YOU CAN BE YOURSELF FOR ME, I’LL TAKE YOU AS YOU ARE (That goes for all of us!!!)
I know they said, “Believe in love, ” is a dream that can’t be real
So, girl, let’s write a fairy tale
And show ’em how We feel
You’re who I’m thinking of
Girl, you ain’t My runner-up
And no matter what you’re always number one”
My daughters got so sick of me playing Justin Bieber so loud that they begged me to stop. So, for him to come and have a concert on my birthday, minutes away from us, is God and I continuing to write this fairy tale of His deep love for me. Not only for me, though, but that’s also how much He loves each of us. I’m just the God nerd who pays attention. (SMILE)
I want us all to have this close relationship with God! I ask my daughters all the time, “Aren’t you God’s fav girl?’ Looking at everything God has done for them, they truly believe they are. I’m thinking for the concert we will EVEN wear t-shirts saying, “GOD’S FAVORITE GIRL.”
Don’t miss out! Start seeking a closer relationship with God. Just say this prayer with me, ‘God, I want a closer walk with You.’ He doesn’t require perfection, and He doesn’t judge us the way other humans do. We’re never too much for Him! He loves us unconditionally, and no matter how many times we fall and fail, He stands strong with us to help us get back on track. We can leave the past in the past and move confidently forward with God as our GREATEST FRIEND EVER!!! Amen!!!
WEROLLWITHGOD.COM
***
YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE DAY
GOD LOVES ME TOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!
https://youtu.be/Rj1bzIrGYdA
LIVE IN GOD, LIVE IN LOVE
***
HEALTH MATTERS
DAY 116 OF 365 DAYS OF DISCIPLINE!
DISCIPLINE IS THE WAY…
If I’m going to make it to New York with Ember, I gotta get my discipline seriously up! By the grace of God, I will!!! What are your goals and dreams? We don’t go far without discipline!
