Goodbye IAA, Hello World

Today's my last day with Insurance Auto Auctions. My home for the past 4.5 years. It's definitely a bittersweet moment. Despite the bad taste left in my mouth on more than one occasion, I owe IAA many thanks.

Thank you for letting me know there was no future here for me (without saying those words).

Thank you for testing my character.
Thank you for giving me great office skills.
Thank you for the opportunity to work for a corporation.
Thank you for encouraging me to continue with school and pursue my dreams.
Thank you for trusting me with so much responsibility.
Thank you for those wonderful birthdays of ice cream cakes and gift cards.
Thank you for all those relationships built, cultivated and dissolved (not always the fault of IAA).
Thank you for preparing me for the world.

L Sharp

Your love takes my breath away
Like pleasant surprises on repeat
I am
Overwhelmed
Overjoyed
At the thought of our forever
In time
What's yours is mine
Our hearts combine
Our souls intertwine
Like rainbows
Beginning and ending with treasures
For only you and I to find
Stay awhile
Kick your feet up
Looking forward
Moving forward
All in L sharp...

New Strength, Flying High

Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of His understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord
will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40: 28-31, NLT

A Newness of Life

How excellent is it to see and experience the blessings of God! It's like a breath of fresh air. Countless breaths of fresh air. It's so good to know you are in the middle of God's will. It strengthens your faith and helps you maintain your focus.

Interestingly enough, this time I can't say there was anything I did for God to open the floodgates of heaven. Not to say that I control God by my actions, but the Word does say that God rewards us for faithfulness. It's funny because we often attribute our blessings to something we did. Girl, I fasted. I laid before the Lord for three days. I gave my whole check for tithing. I helped the old lady and her dog cross the street. But this time, that's not my testimony. God blessed me because he loves me. Period. I don't understand, but I know that as God grows me, I am learning to accept the good and the bad and praise Him because He's in control of it all.

Yesterday I was talking to someone about baptisms and was reminded of what Pastor says to each of us when we go down in that bone chilling water. Something really does happen and I feel like it's happening to my spirit as we speak:

Niesha,
I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Into the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
That just as Jesus died and was buried and rose from the grave
Even so now you are going to walk in a newness of life...

No Fairytales Here...

Nothing fell into my lap
No silver spoons here
Just a few cups of hard work
A heaping tablespoon of mothering
A pinch of resilience
and an abundance of grace

And all that I am
I owe to Him
Because He kept me in my ignorance
And washed me in His blood
For that I am
Forever
Grateful

Rebuilding the Temple

A few days ago I was led to read the book of Haggai. Yes, there is such a book. Very short, in the OT. It hit home for me in a big way. It speaks of hard work without receiving the full worth of your labor. The Lord then tells them it is because they have neglected the temple. He tells them to have a response of obedience and rebuild the temple in order to see all they do prosper.

You know when it seems like you're standing still and the world is moving around you. I want so badly to achieve and move forward in my life, but I feel like I've been running in place for so long. Expending energy, without reward. But I am so grateful to read God's Word and be reminded to work on rebuilding the temple because God promises success when He is taken care of in our lives.

In the midst of me preparing to be a wife, mother, and world changer, I must prepare my temple. I know I have to prepare, but the call can seem overwhelming. This scripture, however, brought relief to remind me that making my temple a place where God can reside is most important. So I have begun and will continue to work on myself physically, mentally and spiritually. I have to take care of my temple and rebuild the places that have been damaged and destroyed. When the Holy Spirit is truly at home in this surrendered in this temple, I will know no greater peace.