“THANKS FOR BEING MY GOD WINK!”

That was me to my remarkable daughter, Ember, late last night. I was telling her how God has asked me to do something HARD for Him, and I have to say, “No problem, God. Anything for You!” She doesn’t get some of the difficult decisions I make. I explained that it’s my way of being OBEDIENT TO GOD, who gives us so much more than we can ever ask or imagine (Like her as an example! She surprises us! God knew we needed her first to set such a positive example for our other kids.). I had just had an appointment with God reading the Bible, and I told her that I’m going with this verse because it has certainly been our experience with God:

“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,” – Ephesians 3:20

Then, this morning, Joel and Victoria Osteen, sends out their daily devotional, and of all verses in the Bible, they selected this very one:

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” – Ephesians 3:20

I’ve written so many times about how these emails from Joel and Victoria are my DIRECT messages from God Himself. So, I took this as no coincidence, it was God’s sweet way of letting me know that His invisible Presence is always with my family and me. This is what gives me the STRENGTH to keep trying to be excellent, going the extra mile in love, forgiveness, patience, humility, gentleness, and self-control. Trust me, it’s not easy when the crazy lady wants to come out in full force. But, I keep asking, ‘God, what would make You happy here? How can I enter into these circumstances to glorify You?’

Can we all make that our goal, to please and glorify God in everything we do, everything we say, everything we think, and everywhere we go?

“not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing.” – 1 Peter 3:9

I promise you, this is the way to the best life with Him. Even as we go through troublesome times, we can know that His Presence is always with us helping to fight battles in the spiritual realm on our behalf. He is with us and for us!!

“When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won’t drown. When you walk through fire, you won’t be burned or scorched by the flames.” – Isaiah 43:2

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‘GOD, WHAT SHOULD I SAY HERE?’ (REPOST)

That was me looking to Him as to how to respond to a question my husband had asked. Trust me, I had LOTS to say, but with one glimpse in God’s direction, I knew He would have me to hold back those words and be kind. Nik, say anything you want to me, but to others, practice silence.

This morning, when I asked Him about it again, like God, why can’t I address this issue, I feel He had this to say:

“DO NOT EXPECT to be treated fairly in this life. People will say and hurtful things to you don’t deserve. When someone mistreats you, try to view it as an opportunity to grow in grace. See how quickly you can forgive the one who has wounded you. DON’T BE CONCERNED ABOUT SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT. Instead of obsessing about other people’s opinions of you, KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON ME. Ultimately, it is my view of you that counts…

When others treat you unfairly, remember that My ways with you are much better than fair. My ways are Peace and Love, which I have poured out into your heart by My Spirit.” – Jesus Calling

And this husband who EXCEEDS my expectations deserves all the love, respect, and kindness from me. I told him this morning, “This was why God told me, “MARRY HIM!!!” when we first met. When I say God gives me more than I can imagine or expect, my husband is a prime example. Like I always say, “We ain’t perfect, but we’re damn close!”

Hubby is the one teaching me how to love, and God has asked me to share these love (sometimes very messy) lessons with you guys. God is love. Point. Blank. Period. And we should be about enacting His love in the world. So, when God told me to SHHHH, be kind, Nik, I knew right away that this was the loving, high road, and best way to go. Nobody’s perfect! I want us to reflect the God is love character in all our relationships!!! KK?!? Where God is, there is peace, joy and love. Let’s stay in His Presence.

I have lots of work with a big ball I have in the air now, but even with that, I KNOW GOD HAS MY BACK. I’m sticking with this verse:

“These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world, you have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

God has the final say! Wink! Wink!

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“LET ME AND MY SONS ENJOY OURSELVES!!!”

That was me to my hubby this morning! He thought I was buying too much pizza for our boys when there are so many more nutritious foods in the house. So, when I told Emmie I was ordering pizza for them today, he astonishingly asked, “You stood up to daddy?” (After nineteen years of marriage, I’ve WISELY learned to choose my battles, leaving the rest with God!). “Yes!” I replied, “I want you guys to know that this same mom who pushes you to stay up to study until 1 am, is the same mom who wants you to enjoy yourself, too. Life is a balance. When it’s time to work, we work hard. When it’s time to play and enjoy, we do that. I don’t want to put too much pressure on you guys all the time. It’s a beautiful life!”

Five minutes later, I go to have an appointment with God, and can you believe He found a sweet way to reveal His invisible Presence with us in that conversation? I continued reading from where I had left off with my husband in our alone time with God, to incredibly read this (written as if God is speaking to us):

“When you’re comfortable enough in your true identity to BALANCE WORK WITH RELAXATION (Wink! Wink!), you are more effective in My kingdom.” – Jesus Always

Wow! God is too much! I’m talking my exact conversation with my son about balancing work with relaxation and enjoyment only minutes prior! This was God’s sweet way of saying, ‘Nik, I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU. I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU. I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU.’ This lined up too perfectly to be considered some ordinary coincidence! Of all my meditation books, I felt Him saying to me to continue reading from where I had last stopped. Too perfect!!! I rushed down to show Emmie and to teach him about God’s deep, deep, deep love for us.

This gives me such confidence that I CAN think great thoughts of God. His love and attention to the most minor details of my life (pizza for my sons!), gives me the ability to face challenges bravely, fearlessly, courageously, KNOWING I’m walking with the Creator of the Universe. I have complete FAITH in Him! I do my best, and I leave the rest for Him!

However, while He helps me to be STRONGER in some areas, He is also making me SOFTER in others. I look back to where I was exactly one year ago, and I’m so much more forgiving, patient, gentler, content, and kinder. I continually pause, inviting God into as many of my moments as possible, asking Him, “What will make You happy here?” And as I do that, unbelievably, He seems to ask me, ‘Nik, what would make you happy here?’ (HUGE SMILE)

To the point that I was up after midnight CRYING attending a Zoom meeting with my daughter, Julie, for her early admissions to attend college completely for free in the US. They said even if she needed lab goggles, they would be provided free of charge. But the best part was knowing I have such terrific, on the ball, close to God, super-intelligent, sweetie pie daughters who inspire me to be better. Truly PRICELESS! God is my Partner in every aspect of my life, and He has been the one directing your girl here, step by step, in this parenting thing.

Even with this husband who loves to give me a hard time, God gives me the wisdom, tact, strength, love, and patience to show up as the best wife possible to the better than the best husband in the world. Nobody’s perfect, y’all!

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I FINALLY GET IT!!! (REPOST)

At every moment, we have God’s love, power, generosity, strength, wisdom, patience, charm, personality, influence, Spirit, angels, warmth, and friendship backing us up. Are you guys getting this???? God is intimately involved in every nanosecond of our lives, just waiting for us to remember that, although invisible, He is there with us. SWEET!!!

It took a conversation with someone early this morning that brought this idea home. I have a way of making some pretty cutting, hurtful, and rude remarks sometimes, and in that conversation, before making one of those awful comments, I held my tongue, looked to God, and asked, ‘What would please You here?’ I felt Him respond through my Spirit, ‘Nik, don’t say that!’ And I didn’t, and instead responded with gentleness, kindness, and love, all for God’s happiness and honor. Love is not rude.

The BIG lesson is that I need us to up our game in doing an even better job of continuously going to God and responding to EVERYONE and EVERYTHING from His perspective. Trust me, like in that conversation today, instead of saying the wrong things, God gave me His tact, charm, genuineness, and charisma to respond from His loving and kind character. And it’s ALWAYS available to us. GOD IS OUR GREATEST FRIEND.

I so enjoyed talking to a priest recently. We summed up God in three words: GOD IS LOVE. And He is counting on us to reflect that to a watching world. That’s what I believe would please Him greatly. The more beautiful we are, in our words and deeds, the more beautiful God looks. Wink! Wink! NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SAID, EITHER. People should want a relationship with God because of us and not vice versa.

Even with problems. I so want to figure out how I will handle the difficulties of my life, but God is showing me that I don’t have to have everything all figured out. This message showed up on WhatsApp, and I knew I was indeed a message from God to me:

“But God is saying to you…Be still and know that I am your God. I will fight all your battles and give you victory.”

That means relaxing (not in a lazy way!), confident, and having a continuous thought of God being with us and for us, seeking to do what He is asking of us. His constant advice as to what to do, what to say, and where to go, leads us to a life of joy, purpose, peace, success, and victory no matter the challenges – may no darkness weigh us down by the grace of God!

Let me tell ya, His direction hasn’t failed me yet! I LOVE MY LIFE WITH GOD! WILL YOU JOIN US?

“Grant me the grace, O Lord and Saviour, to never allow time to elapse between the desiring and the putting into practice that which You want. Amen.” – The Imitation of Christ

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‘HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS WITH GOD DO YOU NEED?’ (REPOST)

That’s me having some fun with myself as I sat procrastinating about getting an overdue project completed. But, turns out, that alone time with God was perfect, as He reminded me that His invisible Presence is always with me. Of all books, and of all pages, that were close by, I ended up reading these words as I SAT AT MY DESK:

“My friend, Jesus Christ (God) wants us to be serene (calm) WHEN WE ARE AT OUR DESK (Wink! Wink!) and have to face the problems and decisions our work involves.” – Jesus As Friend by Salvatore Canals

That was no coincidence! It was God’s sweet way of revealing His invisible Presence with me, reminding me that I was not handling that project alone. My help comes from the Lord!

Fast forward a few hours later, I needed to hear from God again (no shame in my game!). I kept beating myself up about the terrible rut I’ve been in and in an appointment with my daughter, Ember, God had her to read these words to me:

“The Lord knows you inside and out, and he knows that you are sinful. He knows you cannot be perfect, He doesn’t hate (or even dislike) you when you blow it. Love doesn’t end when you make mistakes. Of course, it breaks God’s heart when you disobey his commands, but like King Asa, you can still be known as a girl or guy after God’s own heart. Make that your goal. Perfection is never possible anyway.

Prayer: Lord, I’m glad serving you doesn’t require perfection because I would fail! Help me to be “fully committed” to you like Asa, focusing on our relationship instead of keeping track of my sins.” – A Purpose Driven Life Devotional For Kids by Rick Warren

Now that’s the right focus, being fully committed to a relationship with God, not perfection. May God help us all!

The next morning, I was blessed to have both of my daughters running with me, and exactly where I had decided to stop was 1.17 miles, and once again, whenever I see 11 and 7 together, I know that it is God reminding me that His invisible Presence was AGAIN with me. I usually stop the run when I get back home, but for some reason, stopped it earlier at that specific location next to my daughter, Ember, who said, “Wow, mom, that 11 and 7 show up a lot for you!” “God is with your momma, boo!” I replied

“The presence of God sought serenely and held on with determination, ought to be a source of deep, intimate joy every day of your life.” I claim it for all of us!

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IT’S OUR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Today makes 19 years I’ve been married to the best husband in the world! He’s not even the best husband anymore, though, as my son, Siah, put it when I asked him recently if I found him the best dad. He said, “Mom, you found us better than best!” And I agree entirely! But, of course, I’m giving God all the glory and praise! This has been a love story, no doubt, orchestrated by GOD HIMSELF!

God is truly our Life Partner once we get to know His voice! My favorite story to explain this was when I met my husband. One week after meeting him, I gave him a book, and I wrote inside, “I know, and I know and I know that we were meant to be together, and we will be the world’s most perfect couple.” I had such confidence after only knowing him for one week! Like ‘YES!!! He is the one!’ I joke that even if God Himself had come down and said, ‘No, Nik, this is not your husband,’ I would have argued back, ‘No, God, this is my husband!!!’ I had no doubt whatsoever, and five months later, we were married.

What made me so confident, that I now know, was God’s spirit within me! He is pretty talkative when we have ears to hear him and eyes to see him. Those feelings of excitement and happiness were God’s way of directing me as if saying, ‘Yes, Nik, he is the one.’ And honestly, those feelings were 100% correct! God gave me a better than best husband. Don’t play around with your relationship with God; HE KNOWS EVERYTHING!!!

However, if I had feelings of doubt, stress, uncertainty when I thought about marrying him, that would have been God’s way of saying, ‘No, Nik, don’t do that!’ So, now, in every aspect of my life, and all day long, I’ve WISELY learned to pay attention to those feelings from God so that I allow Him to be the guide of my life. As John 10:27 explains, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Wink! Wink!

That’s where the joy comes in, KNOWING I have the Creator of the universe assisting me in making the utmost best decision like he did 19 years ago today (HUGE SMILE). Ephesians 3:20 has been my experience with God:

“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us”

God has given us superabundantly more than we could have ever hoped or dreamed, nineteen years and four beautiful kids and an awesome nephew later! God, thank You!!!

Not to say we don’t have our share of trials, challenges, and problems because we do! But that again has been where the joy of knowing God has been our strength! No matter the troublesome times, He always seems to show up as if asking, “Who’s messing with my people?” We feel his Presence in the background of our lives, arranging for the right people to assist us, magical solutions would pop to mind, and His direction as to what decisions to make, has seen us through many difficulties. As we go through life handling the .75% in the physical realm, God is in the background taking care of the 99.75%. Meaning, we can go through life joyfully despite the overwhelming challenges knowing we are NOT handling problems alone. Like they say in Nigeria, “God dey!” That gives us the courage and confidence to tackle head-on any challenge that comes up, knowing our help comes from God Himself! Heehaw!!!

But this knowing and hearing from God take a commitment on our part as well to develop a relationship with Him where we’re getting to know Him better. I will never forget a particularly stressful day where I sat on this Minnie mouse stool I have to sit on and hear from God praying for his clarity and direction on a tough situation that came up – in this life you will have trouble! As I sat there, a friend sends me a WhatsApp message of a prayer from Devon Franklin (BTW, this may be a message from God to you today!):

“Heavenly Father, we’re praying right now for anyone listening to (or reading) this prayer. There is so much confusion going on right now. There is so much worry. So much anxiety. So much uncertainty. And I’m praying right now that if you are listening to this prayer, that you will know that this prayer is for you.

There are so many people who are trying to figure out, ‘What are we supposed to do?’ …There are so many unanswered questions…You may be losing hope…You may be throwing your hands up. But I pray right now, as you throw your hands up, that you will begin to put your hands together. PRAYER DOES CHANGE THINGS.

I pray, Dear Lord, that you will provide clarity on what to do. If you’re listening to this prayer, MAY I SUBMIT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THAT THIS IS CONFIRMATION THAT GOD HEARS YOU. And if God has allowed you to hear this prayer, it’s because He has every intent to help you. So, I pray, Dear Lord, that you will send the help, you will send the clarity. You will meet the need as only you can do it. If you can feel God’s Presence through what I am saying, let that be confirmation to you that God’s not going to bring you this far to leave you. He will not take you to this moment and drop you. Have the faith to know that God is going to carry you everywhere He wants you to be…”

Wow! I couldn’t believe it! There I was praying for CLARITY on that little stool, and the title of the prayer was ‘Praying for CLARITY.’ I knew this was no coincidence, but like Devon said, it was confirmation that God was not going to bring me this far and leave me. That HE was in the midst of this troublesome situation with me. Devon and I were even wearing the same shirts as proof, black, buttoned all the way to the top, polo shirts. God is too much!

That was back some nine months ago, and unbelievably that situation, where I was thinking the worst-case scenario on that stool, turned out better than I expected. God helped us! How God does what He does, is none of our business, our job is to trust Him!

But can you believe God used my friend again in the Bahamas to confirm another message from Him through Devon Franklin? Yesterday, I was on Instagram, and another one of Devon’s prayers showed up in my feed saying that every help that I need is on the way, after I’ve been praying AGAIN to God for His help and clarity! Let me tell ya, in this life you will have trouble! I felt strongly that it was God speaking to me AGAIN through Devon. Unbelievably, I wake up this morning, and my friend in the Bahamas has sent me this same prayer I saw yesterday on Instagram. It was God confirming, ‘Yes, Nik, this was a message from me!!!’ The sweetness of God, baby! He is with us and for us!

So the experience from nine months ago of hearing that Devon Franklin prayer for clarity and me seeing God come through for me in that terrible situation has strengthened my faith in God. It helped me learn His voice even better that I knew it was Him again speaking to me yesterday. Then for Him to go to the trouble of having my friend to confirm it, was all God’s love and close attention to the details of my life.

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” – Psalm 8:4

And that’s again where the courage comes from to give me the joy and strength to take on life, knowing God is my Partner. As I do my best in the physical realm, I can trust God to do what I can’t do in the spiritual realm.

Are you getting to know God better? I don’t promise a life without challenges, but I can promise a life where you can feel at peace, content, and joyful, knowing you handle nothing alone and God’s invisible Presence is standing with you through the ups and downs. Not one moment of seeking God and learning his voice is ever wasted! We need him!

I prayed the best prayer over 12 or 13 years ago, “God, I want a closer walk with you.’ I hope you say this prayer with me as we commit to walking even closer with God this year! Start waking up and having alone times with Him, so you learn His voice as you take on your days JOYFULLY with God as your Faithful Partner and Greatest Friend ever! Amen!

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GOD BLOWS ME AWAY WITH HIS LOVE

My God winks are when, out of the blue, everything lines EXTREMELY TOO perfectly to be considered some ordinary coincidence. These alignments are all orchestrated by GOD HIMSELF to reveal His invisible Presence with us. And this is exactly what He did with my son, Siah, and me today!

He was waking up when I had a little hugging session with him, telling him how much I appreciate him for teaching me about love. I thanked him for being extra kind to his brother, Emmie, loaning him his phone to play games. I said, “Even if Emmie isn’t kind to you, who are you going to be kind to Emmie for?” He replied, “God.” “Everything is between you and God, not between you and anyone else!” I reminded him.

I then asked if he would have an appointment with God with me, and he happily agreed. I opened our Purpose Driven Life Devotional for Kids, but he said, “No, I want to read from your book.” God maniac mom was thrilled and said, “It would be my honor to read my book with you! You pick the number, though.” So right after having that conversation with him, look what showed up out of 366 posts, Siah picked this:

““LET’S HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH GOD”

I said to my Julie, my then eleven-year-old sweetheart before she left for school. I grabbed her daily devotional for girls and randomly opened it for us to read together. The Bible verse quoted for that day was John 4:16: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” She asked if that included loving her sister, Ember, even when Ember is mean to her. I asked, “Everything is between you and who?” She reluctantly answered, “God.””

It was like almost an exact replay of that conversation I just had with Siah. He is almost eleven, Julie was then eleven. I was asking both to have an appointment with God with me. I thanked Siah for teaching me how to love God’s way, and the verse Julie and I picked said, “God is love.” I was teaching Julie to do everything for God, even with her sister Ember was mean. I was teaching Joshie to continue being kind to his brother, even when Emmie is mean. I was teaching Julie that everything was between her and God and reminding Siah of the same thing. Like this all lined up EXTREMELY TOO perfect to say it was a coincidence. Out of 366 posts for Siah to go directly there, was God showing us His love, attention, and intimate Presence in our lives! David was spot on when he wrote these verses some 3,000 years ago:

“God Knows Everything

Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it. You are all around me—in front and in back— and have put your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand.” – Pslam 139:1-6

Like God knew the entire conversation I would be having with my son today, and He took me back six years ago when I had almost the exact conversation with my daughter, Julie. God is too much! He is familiar with all our ways! That’s what gives me the confidence to take on life boldly, joyfully, peacefully, and courageously KNOWING God’s FAITHFUL Presence is always with me. What time are your alone times with Him? God is our strength! Amen!

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GOD, I JUST WANT TO BE WITH YOU!!! (REPOST)

This life gets crazy sometimes, but God is my base where I can go for His peace, joy, and love. Like a few minutes ago, I asked, ‘God, where can I go to hear from You?’ I watched my YouTube video from yesterday where I said,

“I’m going through life with God as my audience. I’m giving Him the front row seat. So, if He says, Nik, be the best person you can be. Be the best wife, the best mother, be the best person, be the best daughter, be the best sister. Whatever it is God is asking me to do in every moment, I just want to do that for Him.”

After watching a few more of my old videos, reading some old posts, reading my meditation book, He and I, I still didn’t feel like I received a high five from God, though, like a strong confirmation that He is with me. I then thought to read my book and just randomly scrolling to a place to read, this showed up:

““Lord, what makes YOU happy?” is the question I want to continually ask. And doing my best to be the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and person is how I intend to make God happy in every moment of my life.”

In this book of 366 blog posts, for me to scroll and go to exactly this one, was God’s sweet way of letting me know that His invisible Presence is with me. God, HIGH FIVE! I will do my best to honor you by showing up as the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and person You would have me to be. I loved this appointment last night with Him:

“Let it be said of you, ‘She is a friend of Christ (God).’ The honor will be Mine and you will add to My glory.” – He and I

Can we all aim to be known as friends of God? The more beautiful we are (inside and out!), the more beautiful He looks! Let’s go through life with Him as our center, our rock, our place of calmness when the world wants to overwhelm us, knowing that His Presence never leaves us, not even for a quarter of a second! Off to run and touch base with my 47trees!

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THIS IS A FAMILY ROLLING WITH GOD! (REPOST)

That’s our testimony, baby! We ain’t perfect, but we’re damn close! (SMILE) And those imperfections are all still a part of God’s perfect plan as, hopefully, you all get to see that He doesn’t require perfection to be a part of His royal family – He loves us ALL unconditionally – we’re His peeps! We can fall a million times, and He will help us get up a million and one!

He also wants us to know that true love can still exist within imperfections – ain’t nobody perfect. Hubs and I may go through our ups and down, but WE DON’T GIVE UP ON EACH OTHER. God has taught me that we can go through the darkest of nights (been there!) and still have hope that better days are still ahead of us (LOVE, LOYALTY, AND PATIENCE, BABY). We can trust that there is light shining beyond the dark clouds. As we do our best, we’re trusting God to do the rest (NOT EVERY BATTLE IS FOR US TO FIGHT!). “Be still and know that I am God.” (Another SMILE)

Our job is to stay focused on God, doing what He would have us to do in every relationship, every circumstance, and every decision:

“Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.

Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

“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

I feel God transforming me into the person He would have me to be. When I want to be rude and unmannerly, He gently nudges me in my spirit that this is not who He has called me to be. And I say, ‘Ok, God, anything for You,’ doing my best to stay on the difficult high road with Him. When thoughts of worry come, I ask myself, ‘Has God ever let you down?’ He has not.

I had such a rough yet beautiful day with Him. Again, He exceeded my expectations when He guided me to the perfect doctor to take my mom. Within minutes he figured out the problem with a test confirming his suspicions. It was incredible. A GPS-guided route took me to pass a big building with the number 1175, and I knew this was God’s way of letting me know I was on the right path. Whenever I see the 11 and 7 together, they are my winks, letting me know that God’s invisible presence is with me. I just checked on her, and she’s doing much better. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Amen!

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