Gifts from above!

It’s my Birthday month!

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I’ve been so blessed over the last forty-nine years. I’ve been alive for almost half a century!

Even though I’ve faced multiple, challenging scenarios both in my personal and professional lives, God has led the way over the past decade.

God has reassured me over and over again He’s got a plan written out just for me, and my full name is on the cover sheet.

How do I know He does?!

Every time I’m about to doubt His plan and grow weary, He reminds me of His grace and memorable gifts.

Co-worker’s smile when walking down the hall, the gift of friendship;

A wise friend who suggests the ‘next step’ for a project, the gift of wisdom;

A graphic designer who is willing to do work for FREE, the gift of fellowship;

A local church where God is glorified, the gift of the Gospel;

A bakery’s free bagel, the gift of community resources,

A co-worker’s readiness for an upcoming training, the gift of team work,

A replacement of an item free of charge and no shipping fees, the gift of customer service,

And so many other gifts!

I just have to be mindful of His unexpected gifts in ordinary moments.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

His Gift

I only hoped for the ‘best’ when I confirmed my decision with a nationwide recruiter who offered me a career opportunity in Tennessee.

Taking a leap of Faith was just the beginning of a fulfilling journey in Faith!

I moved away from family and friends, and left behind a metropolitan lifestyle in Sunshine State.

I signed a ‘one-year’ lease for one-bedroom apartment in Germantown area, packed all personal belongings, and drove to a new State with my feline crew. I thought it would only be temporarily. I was wrong!

Collierville, Tennessee is ‘home’ today.

As I settled down in career endeavors, I initiated a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and soon realized I was digging deeper into my Faith.

How did it all happened?!

Because of my brokenness, I repented of my sins, invited Jesus into my heart, backed away from self-defeating patterns and believed in Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Jesus died on the Cross and resurrected three days later so I could have His gift of Salvation.

Thank you, Jesus!

I’m now embracing a resurrected life filled with hope, grace, joy and forgiveness. Because of His unfailing love, I’m a new creation In Christ.

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“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭NIV‬

Refreshed!

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:22-23‬ ‭NIV

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How many times am I burden with uncontrollable anticipation about the future?

Dwelling on all sort of possibilities may indeed result in angst!

Anxious thoughts distract us from what’s relevant for the day; deadlines to fulfill, work tasks to complete, telephone calls to make, sick child to attend to, medical appointment to schedule, financial obligations to consider, an emergency to handle in a timely fashion and so much more.

Why be distracted with the ‘unknown’? Some events may never occur in a lifetime…

Every time I spend too much time exploring various scenarios, my energy is drained and mental efforts are taxed.

Will I have the clarity to manage my day effectively under distress? Probable not!

His Word refreshes my soul every morning, His angels protect me everywhere I go, and His compassion never runs out.

Every morning, I thank Him for my last breaths. He comforts me every time I’m in distress.

Thank You Jesus for being my comforter every morning! Your mercies are new every morning.

There is no need to ruminate on the past much less on the ‘unknown’.

Construction in Progress

 Morning SunriseWork under construction

When I walk at sunrise, I like to pray, breathe fresh air, listen to birds sing and stretch body muscles.

As I do my morning walking, I note the progress of a construction site.

As  much as I don’t like to think about the future traffic this road will bring to our neighborhood, I look forward to less travel time and gas consumption.

Construction sites are messy  but there are benefits to new roads once completed.

Cities are always evolving!

Renovations and improvements are considered every year.

Our lives circumstances are always unfolding and evolving as well.

We are always contemplating in ‘how to’ improve our eating habits, ‘how to’ renovate our wardrobe, ‘how to’ make a new recipe or even ‘how to’ negotiate with vendors prior to home improvements.

We will always have an opportunity to create the life we always wanted. Even when our lives gets ‘messy or out of control’, we have an opportunity to learn from our mistakes, capture fresh insights and rebuild it differently.

Our lives will always be under construction and progress can be made everyday towards a new plan filled with unlimited possibilities.

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭20:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬