Photo by age-barros

The Second Half

photo by:Priscilla Du Preez CA

Ponder, Pray, Pursue

There are times in life when we need to ponder before we make our next move. Pondering takes place in our mind. It means to think about, ‘reflect on, to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply.’ It’s not an easy task to do, specifically when we have to make some very difficult decisions.

                                                  Confidence

                                     Photo by sydney Rae 

Confidence is important in so many ways. We need confidence in everything we do. It is especially important in our family life, career, finances and relationships. We have to believe in ourselves and we hope others will believe in us too. Even if they don’t we still have to be true to who we are and confident in ourselves.

                         Soar Like Eagles

                                              Photo by Richard Lee

Wouldn’t it be great to have the ability to see 2 miles down the road? Believe it or not this is what an eagle experiences. Eagles are equipped with extremely sharp vision. Humans aim to have 20/20 vision, but according to research an eagle has 20/5 vision, which is so much better than humans.

photo by Timo Wagner

                                                 Photo by Jerome on Unsplash

Our eyes are a very important part of who we are. We are blessed to have five senses and seeing is one of those. The others are hearing, taste, touch and smell. The eyes are a powerful resource that enables us to see the beautiful world around us. We do not generally think twice about the eyes functioning properly until we notice something is going wrong.

If you ever had to choose between the two following people who would you choose?

Prince Charming is a fantasy character who Cinderella fell madly in love with. The prince in Sleeping Beauty and Snow White portrayed similar heroic and charming characteristics. He might have been the type of man that was too good to be true. On the other hand, Boaz was a biblical wealthy landowner. He was also in the ancestry lineage of  Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. (Matthew 1:5-16).

     Photo by Anna Gru                               

                                   Miracles

We tend to talk about miracles more during the holiday season, but little do we know they are happening every day, all day and throughout the year.

I stand in awe and amazement at the many miracles that happen in my life daily.  

Miracles are things that occur in our lives that are extraordinary and beyond our norm.  They are unexplainable and defy all odds. They happen daily and they go unnoticed.

Aside from the official definition of miracles I see them also as coming through a bad thunderstorm warning without a loss of life or damage to any property. They  are when our heart beats rhythmically and we breath without effort. We do this automatically unless we develop some type of health problem. To be able to put one foot in front of the other, breath fresh clean air, receive healing from an excruciating headache, make wise decisions and travel without any incidence of hurt, harm or danger is a miracle. I also believe that it’s a miracle to be able to use our five senses; hear, see, taste, touch and smell. So many things can go wrong so quickly. This was so important to make note of when the world was faced with the Covid19 pandemic unexpectantly. Some people were experiencing a sudden loss of taste and smell, which indicated they had come into contact with or had contracted the virus. They were so glad to regain their ability to taste and smell. I see this as one of the million little miracles that happens in our life.  

I love a song that I heard recently that is so true. It’s called Million Little Miracles, written by Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music.

“All my life, I've been carried by grace
Don't ask me how 'cause I can't explain
It's nothing short of a miracle I'm here

I've got some blessings that I don't deserve
I've got some scars, but that's how you learn
It's nothing short of a miracle I'm here

I think it over and it doesn't add up
I know it comes from above

I've got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles
One, two, three, four, I can't even count 'em all

I encourage you to listen to this song at your earliest convenience and to start counting your miracles each day. I believe you will not be able to count them all.

                                                                     Influencer

                      Photo by Gian Cescon                                  

We all are influencers in one way or another. We affect others through our sphere of influence whether it is for good or bad. This means that we have the capacity to affect others in their development, behavior and character.

                                                                                                 Invisible Walls    

                                                                                   9/11/2022

 Photo by Zachary Nelson

                                     Keep Dancing

                                                                 Photo by Zachary Nelson

How many of you loved to dance when you were young at heart? I used to dance a lot when I was younger. To be truthful, I believe I was a great dancer. I enjoyed learning the latest dance steps and newest dance moves. I fondly remember my childhood Pastor saying, “You don’t have to stop dancing, you just change partners.” I believe he was telling us to keep dance even after we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. He will now become our partner due to our change of heart and mindset.  

                                                                                                                                   Photo by Toa Heftiba 

                                        Changing of the Guards   

Isn’t it ironic that the passing of Queen Elizabeth II came two days after the new Prime Minister of England received her appointment into the office. We saw a quick glimpse of Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday September 6^th reaching her hand out to Liz Truss and then passing two days later. The United Kingdom embarks on a new journey with an inducted Prime Minister and crowned King. Queen Elizabeth II acquired the Crown after the death of her father King George VI in 1952. Her reign extended for 70 years as the Queen of England. Historically, this has been an amazing fete.

As Head of state, King Charles III is ultimately responsible for the spiritual and psychosocial development of the people of the United Kingdom and associated colonies. The Prime Minister’s role is to lead the Parliament and implement measures to transform the economy.

Photo by Miguel Bruna

                                                                       Warrior

Do you consider yourself a Warrior? If so, the world needs more people like you, so stand up and be counted. A warrior is someone who knows what they want and go after it. They stand for what is true to them and will not take down to anything. They have great beliefs, ideals              and have an unwavering faith.

A warrior personifies a person of great strength and fortitude. When things get tough, the tough get going. When life gives them lemons, they make lemonade. They are not the ones to even contemplate throwing in the towel, retreating or looking back. They put their hands to the plow and keep on pushing. They are “steadfast, immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord. They know that their labor is not in vain.”

I recently heard of the story of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky statement when someone offered him a ride to leave Ukraine prior to the battle that they are facing. His response was “I don’t need a ride; I need some ammunition.” He is a true warrior for all tense and purposes. He is willing to fight for what he believes in.

                                           What is Your Love Language?

We are quickly approaching February 14^th which is dedicated for a day of showing others how you love them. It is called Valentine’s Day. There is no distinct date as to when the first Valentine’s Day first occurred and by whom, but there is one thing that all of the historian’s agreed upon was it is celebrated in mid-February and was named after St. Valentine. The Britannica Encyclopedia cited different theories and legends concerning Valentine’s Day. I am actually referencing the one about St. Valentine sending a greeting to his love interest while in a Roman jail in this post. I encourage you to do further research about this subject as well. Everyone need to know that they are loved. If no one has told you today that they love you, let me the first to say that I love you with the love of the Lord. There are several kinds of love: agape, storge, eros, and philio love. Love is a four-letter word, but so powerful in its execution. The bottom line about love is how we communicate it and how it is communicated back to us.

The five love languages are words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch. It is an extremely popular book and teachings by Gary Chapman in 1992. It caught on very quickly and is still very relevant today. Love languages are divided into two categories. The first one is how you express love and the second one is how you receive love. Each one has their significant place in our lives.

The first love language is considered the primary love language. It is how you give or express love. The secondary is how you receive love.

                              Take Care of Yourself

Take care of yourself is a familiar phrase that we have been using more lately. It may sound like a cliché, but it carries weight. It appears that the days are shorter and before we know it, it will be December 31^st and we will be setting goals for the new year. It is actually 77 days left in 2021. I said that to make a point, because we focus on the mundane, hustle, bustle, busy things of life and we forget to take care of ourselves. We care for so many things and others we totally put our needs on the back burner. I hope by the time you finish reading this blog you will have a new sense of self.

A new sense of self is not meaning for you to be selfish, self-absorbed, or self-centered. It merely means pay attention to what your needs are. I am not telling you to forget your obligations or the things you need to do a daily basis, but to make sure you become more aware of what your needs are and “take care of yourself.”

                                                                         Parenting

Parenting is the act or process of raising a child. It is when an adult takes care of a younger child or sibling.  My parents were raised by their father and their older siblings, because their moms passed away when they were young. My dad was 6 months old when my paternal grandmother passed away and my maternal grandmother passed away when my mom was 6 years old.

When we think of parenting, we automatically think of a mother and father raising a child in the home together. There’s a new term called co-parenting, where the biological parents may live in different homes, and they share the rearing of a child or children. There are other instances where a grandparent, adoptive parent or foster parent takes care of a child. They do this by providing food, clothing, shelter, physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual care for a child.  

                                                                                                  If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time

As we become older it may cross our minds on what could we have done differently. Many of us conclude that we cannot turn back the hands of time. We should not have any regrets or have any "should a, could a, would a" moments. However, I often think about if I had an opportunity to talk to my younger self what would I say. There are so many life lessons that I have learned that would be helpful. These are the things that I would say. 

Pray about everything: There may be times in your life that you think you have the answer to it all, but don’t be deceived. You should always pray. Start your day with prayer and end it with prayer. Also pray throughout the day. Pray in your decision making, pray for a covering over your household, your family, friends and your foe. “Pray without ceasing.” Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.”

Work smarter not harder: Anytime you are creating work arounds, short cuts, loopholes make sure you’re doing it in the best interest of everyone concerned. Do it honestly and with integrity. Allow God to impart ways for you to accomplish your goals in a shorter period that it may have taken others longer to do. Whatever you do, do it with a spirit of excellence and to the glory of God. He will make the most difficult things become so much easier.