I called my husband the other day amid a troublesome situation to ask his advice on what I should do, but he didn’t answer. It turned out to be such a good thing because it forced me to RUN TO GOD and seek His input. And step by step, I felt His guidance in my spirit as to what He would have us to do, and astonishingly everything worked out so much BETTER than expected. It was another lesson in walking bravely and courageously with God, and I don’t want you guys missing out!
It takes a lot of calming down, SLOWING DOWN, and going to God and asking, “What should I do here?” Through practice, you will learn His voice. He has helped me through so many troublesome situations that I know His direction (His voice) quite well. When I feel peace, excitement, joy about moving on a particular path, I know it’s God saying. ‘Yes, that’s the way to go.’ However, when I feel stressed, doubtful, or anxious when I debate on a particular choice, I know it’s Him saying, ‘Nik, don’t do that!’ So, all day long, I try to seek His input in every decision I make. When I get it wrong, let me tell ya, are when I don’t go to Him!
The best part about walking with God, though, is HIS DIVINE ASSISTANCE and MIRACLES that I experience all day long. Like the situation I called hubby about, I ended up getting some help from some people who God just put in my spirit that very week that I should forgive and leave the past in the past. Through my appointments with Him, He teaches me His ways and how He would have me to conduct myself in the world. For example, these verses showed up when I went to Him for help that day:
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Make God a priority and experience this blessed life where He guides you on the path to the best life with Him! Say this prayer with me: “God, I want to walk hand in hand with You as my life Partner. Amen.”
“I’M CALLING TO TELL YOU WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LIFE I HAVE”
That was me to my brother, Kevin, the other day. After sending him a bunch of pictures with my daughters and me, he had sent me back a voice note pretty much telling me off and that I shouldn’t call him anymore about the bad in my life when I have so much good. It was a correction well deserved and appreciated. Thanks, my vro (valued treasure!). I even ask myself sometimes, ‘Nik, what the heck do you have to complain about? Be happy.’
So, today, I just want to brag about God’s goodness. His guidance has truly led my life on a beautiful path. Not one moment seeking Him has been wasted; they’ve paid off BIG TIME!!! Like I look at these gorgeous daughters in awe. I confessed to Julie yesterday that I stopped driving my Mercedes truck to drive around in their Honda with them because I cherish every moment when we’re together. They’ve moved their place of exercise to my bedroom, and I’m so thrilled seeing them workout. Super fierce young ladies! Even their bathroom that was not working has been such a blessing because it forced us to share my own, and it has brought us even more together. It was like God planned it all to bring us closer.
My sons in Nigeria are also making me so happy. Yesterday they spent the day at work with their dad, and at one point, they said they were organizing car parts. Leaving them in Nigeria was not an easy decision, but I looked at it as them learning how to be men, and I see no one better for them to learn that from other than my husband. In fact, I say they are learning to be future KINGS, just like their father.
And speaking of my king, my husband, God (The KING of KINGS!) has opened my eyes to what a great guy he is. I’m sticking with what I wrote in my book’s dedication:
“My Hon, when I met you, I loved you because you were perfect. Fifteen years later (now almost nineteen years later), I know you’re not perfect, but I love you even more. Thank you for putting up with me, your also imperfect, God maniac wife! I want to show you every day that God loved you so much that He gave me to you as your wife. I’m honored to spend my life with you and to be the mother of our four beautiful children: Ember (First Place Daughter), Julie (Super Daughter), Emmanuel A. (Emmie), and Emmanuel J. (Joshie). May God continue to guide and direct us all. Amen.”
And I must mention my nephew, Duro. He is also coming up like a future KING in the making! Whoop Whoop! I’m super proud of you, Duro!!! Great things are headed our way, keep the positivity going!
“THIS VOICE IN MY HEAD GUIDED ME TO THE SPOT WHERE I AM TODAY”
That’s from my guy, David Goggins, talking about God. Call us both crazy, but that same voice has led my life on a stunning path. So much so that I even questioned Him yesterday, ‘Why do you care so much about my family and me?’ This was after I KNOW without a doubt that He had me to go to a special bakery on Saturday to receive some important messages on the wall there:
Practice Patience – Peace – Forgiveness – Gratitude – Courage – Hope – Let your smile change the world – Love is an act – Joy – Inspire
He put me there to tell you a story. That I went into that bakery feeling broken down, depressed, disappointed, and hurt, but I came out God’s little superhero with an important message: FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY. DON’T GIVE UP.
Our families are extremely significant to God. On Sunday, that Voice (God) said I should run 10 miles. It took me three hours to finish, but I did. I asked Him where I should run, and He led me to a running path close to our home, right next to a church. The name of the church is Calvary, and that again was an important message to me from Him. Calvary was where they crucified Jesus, and that very morning, God had me to reshare an old post where I wrote:
“And let’s not forget the sufferings we have to endure, tolerate, and deal with on a daily (the thorns of our lives). We can joyously offer them to God as our gifts to Him as a sacrifice for all that He does for us. LET’S CONTINUE CARRYING THE CROSS FROM JESUS. God will be our joy and our strength as we seek to be the loving and forgiving people He would have us to be. Our reward is with Him!
That Calvary church that I ran repeatedly pass in that three-hour run is to tell you guys that we’re to continue carrying Jesus’ cross, especially in our homes. I know it’s hard, but it’s our gift to God who does so much for us. When we are weak, He will be our strength.
Yesterday, it was such an honor and privilege to have our daughter, Ember, work with me. She’s such a faithful soul. We didn’t get home until almost 9 pm, but it was a great day seeing God’s FAVOR in action; He exceeds our expectations. THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD!
Was the question asked by my super daughter, Julie, yesterday. I replied, “The more important question is: ‘Are you happy with your family?’” And to be honest with you, I’m thrilled with MY FAMILY right now.
Like my daughter, Ember, came out to work with me and to help sell a car, she was up and down between a parts store, the mechanic shop, a tire shop with me, and I was so ecstatic knowing I have such an on the ball, faithful, responsible daughter. Right now, we’re in legacy mode, preparing them to take over our businesses someday hopefully. Every moment around them has become so sweet and enjoyable, even as we take on challenging work.
We didn’t get home until almost 9, and Julie had the most delicious Nigerian food made for me with the special salad that I love. She is on her quest to get into Columbia, one of the top universities in the entire world, and yesterday when she was a bit discouraged by a website that her chances of getting in were low, I said to her, “You’re forgetting the God factor!” As we do our best, God has a way of tweaking situations on our behalf! I encouraged her to keep moving confidently forward in the direction of her dreams, showing up as her most excellent, hardworking self, and God will direct her path. I said, just pray for God to be the Guide of your life.
Then I was so thrilled with my son, Emmie, in Nigeria, who said he would call me back to have an appointment with God, and he did saying we should have two of them since we were missing out on them lately. I was just so happy knowing I have such a great and wonderful son. God has exceeded my expectations!
Joshie called me to say he was upset over a bad dream. I said let’s read our kids’ devotional to see what God had to say, and we picked one to read, but we didn’t get a high five from God. After reading the next one, I asked him what he got from it, and he said he learned that he had to increase his faith in God. That’s my ten-year-old son, y’all!
And Duro, my nephew, told me that he has everything all set to begin his college classes shortly. He is getting up earlier and working extremely hard with us, and I’m so proud!
So, it isn’t just about our marriages, guys, it’s more importantly about our families. I have more love and respect for my husband every day, though, as God opens my eyes to all the excellent qualities in him that I highly admire. Nobody’s perfect! Let’s practice patience with each other.
I see myself as God’s little superhero. Like I told Julie, as my most excellent self, I will show up being the HAPPY wife, mother, and person, God Himself would have me to be. When I die, I imagine Him saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Amen! May ALL our families keep going higher, all for the glory of God, as we increase our faith in Him! Wink! Wink!
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“EMBER, PRAY FOR YOUR MOM”
That was me on Saturday to my daughter when I was having a bit of a rough day. Five minutes later, I entered a bakery, and God had this message waiting at the door for me:
“You’ve got this! Never doubt your ability to persevere through hard times! We’re in this together. (Wink! Wink!)”
And the crazy part was that I was at BJ’s, a wholesale club with so many cakes and pies, but God put it in my heart that I shouldn’t get any of them, and I should pick a cake specifically from Vicky’s bakery. I then debated which location to go to, and I remembered a new one that opened close to our home only to walk in and see that message from God when I was having a tough day. And the messages didn’t stop there. All over their walls were writings for me:
Practice Patience – Peace – Forgiveness – Gratitude – Courage – Hope – Let your smile change the world – Love is an act – Joy – Inspire
I called Ember back, crying on a video call, “Can you believe God loves me this much to send me here for these specific messages?” I left there feeling so loved by Him. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” He sent me to that bakery!
And the good loving from God didn’t stop there! I went home to get dressed and decided to let God be my DJ by putting the music on shuffle. He played many songs for me, but my favorite was ‘Take it Out on Me’ by Justin Bieber:
“Sometimes I don’t mind you having the worst day…Let your frustrations out right here…I’m your Psychiatrist, let’s talk about it…I see the weight weighing on your shoulders…It’s so heavy…Let Me be the meaning of your composure”
And let me tell ya, I ended up going out with the girls where we took these pictures to enjoy the most enjoyable evening with FAMILY. I said, ‘God, You give me MORE than I can ever imagine or expect from You. I can shake off any disappointment and keep my eyes on You!!! I got this! Anything for You! Warrior Nikki mode!’
“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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice.” – Philippians 4:8-9
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GOD DEY – GOD IS THERE!!! (REPOST)
That’s my new affirmation no matter the trials and tribulations that come my way – MY GOD IS WITH ME!!! I can hold on to His hand super tight and make it through ANYTHING! I want us to turn every situation into Heaven. When anything “bad” comes up, I want us to look at it from God’s perspective and turn it miraculously into our good. I love these lyrics:
“Because people aren’t perfect and
By not being perfect, you sometimes can disappoint people
And with God, it’s like He’s perfect and He never disappoints.
So, I just get my recognition from Him” – Justin Bieber
WOOHOO!!! Nobody’s perfect and it is going to be a constant back and forth of forgiving others and asking others to forgive us. So, when the disappointments come, I shake them off immediately, using them for my good and as opportunities to reflect on God and His awesome ways with me. Heehaw! I go from being upset to being super GRATEFUL. God has gone above and beyond my expectations of Him. I also use them to grow me spiritually – how quickly I can forgive? I get better, not bitter!!!
If the situation is reversed, and I’m in the wrong, I do my best to make amends and also reflect on how I can also improve for next time. Then, I get up and keep going, no matter how many mistakes and failures AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. I quickly forgive myself, too. Everything is between me and God. What anyone else does, it’s between them and Him!
Moreover, I’m learning to get all my recognition from God. A BIG mistake is we make is looking too much to others for our value, acceptance, approval, and worth. We seek to be highly regarded, loved, and seen by others to our harm. Our self-esteem, goes up and down dependent on other people’s feelings and moods – how crazy is that? Today you may be the greatest person ever, and tomorrow they may think you’re the worst. I’m keeping MY EYES UNCEASINGLY FIXED ON GOD. I KNOW I’M EXTREMELY LOVED AND VALUED BY HIM IN EVERY MOMENT. NO OTHER APPROVAL NECESSARY.
And let’s not forget the sufferings we have to endure, tolerate, and deal with on a daily (the thorns of our lives). We can joyously offer them to God as our gifts to Him as a sacrifice for all that He does for us. Let’s continue carrying the cross from Jesus. God will be our joy and our strength as we seek to be the loving and forgiving people He would have us to be. Our reward is with Him!
