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 backward to discuss the past, but he was moving forward. Can you believe my little son remembered that and 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 into 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!
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“I’M GOING ON STRIKE FROM DISAPPOINTMENTS!”
That’s where I am at this very moment! I had the perfect appointment with God reading just this paragraph from my book:
“Dr. Wayne Dyer, in his book, The Power of Intention, wrote, “That which offends you only weakens you. If you’re looking for occasions to be offended, you’ll find them at every turn. As A Course in Miracles reminds us: “Peace is of God, you who are a part of God are not at home except in his peace.” Stay close to God and stop getting offended all the time as every time you’re offended by something, you move away from God. When you’re able to respond with love and kindness, instead of getting offended, you get closer to God. Remember, “It’s not between you and anyone else; everything is between you and God!” As St. Paul said, “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance.” Tune in to God’s frequency, and you will know it beyond any and all doubt!””
Let me tell you, I wrote this post years ago, and it’s a lesson that I still haven’t mastered, but I’m not giving up! A few hours after reading this, I needed to put that alone time with God into practice, asking Him, ‘What would you have me to do here?’ when an opportunity came up for me to be offended. But instead of getting upset and disappointed, I took the high road, being my kind and most loving self, seeking to please God, and I WAS SO MUCH HAPPIER FOR IT!!! Woohoo!
I love what Andy Puddicombe had to say to me during a run this week:
“We can’t control what happens to us in life, but we can train the mind and the body so that when things happen that challenge us, we’re ready for them. Not to fight them. Not to resist them. But to deal with them calmly and skillfully.”
With our eyes on God, is what I would add in! No matter the situation we are confronted with, I promise you, God’s ways are always best! If we stay calm, asking Him, ‘God, what would you have me to do here? He will lead you to the ultimate best decision.’ That has been my experience! That little minute seeking Him that day, turned out to be extremely valuable. St. Paul is correct, God has provided my life with every blessing in abundance. Wink! Wink! Don’t miss out! Make God a part of every decision you make! You don’t go wrong with God!
Dear God, help us to constantly catch ourselves when we’re moving away from Your peace and ask, “How can I respond to this in a more loving and kinder way?” seeking to always please You. Amen.”
That was my message to my son, Emmie, this morning after he felt upset about a mistake. The motivational coach/super momma here jumped into action. What happens if a child is running across a street and falls? Does that child stay there crying, or does that child pick themselves up and keep going? That’s how we have to be in life. Constantly picking ourselves up after falls and failures, and keep going. But the trick is, we take the lessons learned from the falls and MASTERFULLY AND SKILLFULLY put them as part of our tool kit for living BETTER AND WISER. Wink! Wink!
That’s what your girl here does! I take all the lessons from past failures, falls, and mistakes and use them as experiences, allowing them to mold me into the best version of myself. Like the other day getting on my knees to apologize to my husband. I see the error in my previous ways. Instead of focusing on the 99% positives that I love about my husband, I obsessed about the 1% of where I thought he was wrong. Thank God for God, who I felt correcting me in my spirit that I shouldn’t give this husband a hard time about anything. He is now back to being my gift.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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
The falls have been so good for me because the lessons I’ve learned from them have been priceless. Like not only do I love and appreciate my husband on a new level, but everyone in my life. I’m now much more forgiving, merciful, softer, kinder, gentler, and peaceful, which has made me much more joyful. They’ve taught me to appreciate the good in my life. And there is so much good in all of our lives when we look for the positives and not the negatives.
Most importantly, all my past mistakes have taught me to keep my eyes on God. In my down times, I go running to Him, ‘God, what is wrong with me?’ and the love and the approval I receive from Him have made me God’s girl, full of strength, courage, and bravery to take on any challenge that now comes my way. I’ll never forget a time when I felt terrible about myself. I was not the person I kept striving to be. I kept failing. Going to Him in that awful moment, beating myself up, this showed up in my meditation book:
“Even when you feel good for nothing (exactly me at that moment), give me this nothing. Didn’t I create with nothing?’ – He and I
That was no coincidence! It was God speaking to me in that pitiful moment! Who am I that God would come to me like that and reveal His intimate, invisible Presence? That is the love I’ve gotten to know from Him. That no matter our mistakes and failures, we have a God who loves us unconditionally and He can turn any situation around. Didn’t He create the entire world from nothing?
Give God a try! I promise you the best life with Him as your Guide and Partner! Just start going to Him in the 1,000 decisions you make every day asking what He would have you to do, seeking to always please and honor Him. He is getting me to the other side of 2020 with such important values ingrained into my character like endurance, faithfulness, loyalty, going the extra mile in love, and FAITH in Him. “And if my God is with me. Whom then shall I fear?” Heehaw!
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“WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF YOUR DAY?” (REPOST)
That was me questioning my Emmanuels (hubby and two sons) while we ate dinner last night. I told them how I was feeling so sick (a cold), discouraged, and overwhelmed by some big balls I have in the air, when my son, Joshie, came and asked me if I would like to have an appointment with God with him. I said, “That’s a great idea! I need one right now!”
It was exactly 4:00 so I said let’s read post number 40 from our ‘Purpose Driven Life Devotional For Kids.’ It was the perfect message:
“Eyes on God
“But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.” – Genesis39:21
A good example of suffering because of other people is Joseph of the Old Testament (Genesis 37-50). After being sold by his brothers into slavery, Joseph found himself in a foreign country, alone and hurting. He had every right to ask, “Why me?” How was Joseph able to hang in there?
First, Joseph recognized that God has given everyone free choice. No one is a puppet or a robot. We can choose to ignore what is right, and God does not force his will on us.
Second, Joseph knew that God saw everything he went through. He never doubted that God cared about him. There is an important phrase that is found five times in the story of Joseph, each time after a major crisis or defeat: “But the Lord was with Joseph.” Even when everything was going wrong, the Lord was still with Joseph.
Remembering these truths allowed Joseph to survive the pain and forgive his brothers in the end—because he kept his eyes on God.
Prayer: Lord, I need to remember that you are with me through sadness and joy, just as you were with Joseph. Thank you for caring for me and caring about me.”
And that’s been my testimony! No matter the challenges and problems I face, God stands with me. The best solutions would pop to mind when I know I’m not that smart. People I need will magically show up to assist me. God’s total guidance, strength, wisdom is always there as my back up no matter what comes my way. I just have to show up with my eyes on God, listening to His direction in every moment as to what He would have me to do.
This was a needed reminder in regards to spending the summer with my kids from Carlos, another one of our God hook-ups. Ever since he wrote that in an email, I’ve changed my perspective from that I have to take care of them myself this summer, to I get to take care of them.
We had the best day together, pretty much in our kitchen waiting for an appliance technician to show up. We cooked, made smoothies, cleaned, played, and laughed. After the tech left, I then took them swimming and by the time I gave them dinner and cleaned up I was super tired. Emmie came and lied next to me in bed, and it was the sweetest thing because I always tell him he only comes to see me when he wants something.
And speaking of enjoying them, I especially enjoy my little, then three-year-old, Joshie! “Why can’t everyone be like you?” is what I asked him one day taking out the trash together. He’s my little sweetie pie! If everyone in my life were like Joshie, life would be super great! He always wants to help, always asking, “How may I serve?” in his little three-year-old way. If he ever does anything that I have to correct him about, no arguments, he says, “Sorry, mommy!” He’s always happy and he’s forever kissing me and hugging me. And he’s also so grateful. While driving one day, out of the blue, like a little man, he said, “Thank you, mom!”
How do people experience being around you? Are you a happy person to be around, humble (quick to admit when you’re wrong), grateful, asking “How may I serve?” instead of, “What’s in it for me?” Just asking! The world needs more Joshies, don’t you think?
Let’s learn to enjoy everyone in our lives. I spoke to my mother in-law for the longest over the phone, and I couldn’t believe when she told me that I’ve been the perfect mother! Is this from the same person I’ve had so many arguments with in regards to how I was raising my kids? In all my years of life, I can say I’ve learned that nobody’s perfect.
Dear God, may we lighten up, be quick to forgive and enjoy everyone in our lives. Amen.
“JUST CALLING TO CHECK IN WITH MY QUARANTINE BUDDY”
That was me to my sister-in-law, Verona, yesterday. My brother, Kevin, had surprisingly called my husband very early that morning, and I thought to check in with Verona a few hours later. I was so thrilled that I did!
I don’t know if you guys remember that V and I were both quarantined away from our husbands, and we were NOT finding it funny. We didn’t have our husbands with us, but we had each other. We. Talked. Every. Single. Day. During. The. Lockdown. We were like two blind people walking together. When one fell, the other one would lift the other one and vice versa. We encouraged each other to stay on the high road with God and be God’s glue that kept our families together. We practiced patience and prayer, held back lots of words, and kept our focus on God. We asked Him to direct us on a moment by moment basis as to what He would have us to do. It wasn’t easy!! But we kept asking God, ‘What would you have me to do here?’
Fast forward to yesterday, that patience and prayer have paid off. When I called, Verona was having breakfast with her husband and sons in the US, a couple of hours after I had just had breakfast with my husband and sons in Nigeria. To God be the glory!!!
MORAL: God’s ways are not our ordinary ways, they are so much better. But He does require us to do some hard things for Him. Like forgiving endlessly, keeping silent, being professional ignorers, and remaining loyal and faithful even when situations look off track. But, this is the way He guides us on the path to the best life with Him! Wink! Wink!
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:3-6
Yesterday, I even got on my knees to apologize to my hubby for the way I’ve been acting. He has truly been my gift from God. A gift that I take for granted. He has earned my deep love, loyalty, and respect. Nobody’s perfect! Can we all make Papa God happy by loving each other deeply? This deep love covers (overlooks) the faults and failings of others and ourselves.
“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” – 1 John 4:16
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“COUNT ON ME.”
That’s God confirming His constant message to your girl here! This time through my meditation book, He and I. It was a disappointment that had me asking God why people were so evil, and driving back from an early morning errand, this Sanchez song played. I knew immediately, it was a direct message from God to me, responding to that very question that had me so upset:
“You’re not alone
No, no, no, no
I know this is gonna hurt your heart again
And this I know
Yes, yes, yes
YOU CAN COUNT ON ME I’LL BE THERE AS YOUR FRIEND
So give it all you got
Don’t cry cause its over now
Don’t be sorry, things are better now
I will be there to give you everything you need
You can always count on Me
And give it chance
I’LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU”
And God more than makes up for all the disappointments that come my way!!! Yesterday evening, having such a fantastic day celebrating ten years of friendship with a beautiful soul who God sent my way, I opened to this message in her kitchen, waiting for our celebratory cake to finish baking:
“… isn’t it perfectly clear to you now that My love arranged all this for you?”
Every detail of my life, I see clearly God’s hand at work connecting me with people like this friend, who really puts up with me, guiding me with such great wisdom to help me become my best self. To this big ball, I have in the air, at this moment, where I feel His constant guidance and nudging through my spirit as to specific steps to take. It’s been incredible! To this verse showing up again frequently, like it always does when I have overwhelming challenges to tackle:
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND HELP YOU;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
So don’t miss this opportunity; get close to God TODAY! Say this prayer with me, “God, I want a closer walk with You.” Then start taking your relationship with Him seriously. Our breakfast appointment with God was about striving to please Him in everything we do. I had the boys go the extra mile in cleaning up the kitchen and dining rooms afterwards, encouraging them to always give their best. Our reward is with God!
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8, KJV
