Life is full of surprises!

I said to my sister last night, 'You know what, life is full of surprises.' Just before penning down this post, I read about a famous photographer, David Sacks who passed away due to cancer.

I was surprised to read that account as I was a fan of his art. He is with the Lord Jesus Christ. My heart grieves for the family left behind.

Death is so inevitable. I cannot stop it nor can I avoid its imminent coming. Ecclesiastes 8:8a comes to mind, 'No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death.'

Thank you Jesus for coming down to earth and saving me from the fear of death and for the promise of life eternal with You. " Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." Hebrews 2:14-15

Life is full of surprises!

You can check out David Sacks' work here. 

Tea Breaks

My favorite time of the day at work is the tea break. Not the one where you have tea near the water cooler with your colleagues and chat. This is when you are in the middle of work and you sip hot tea all the while staring at your computer screen!

I don't know about you but the sheer joy of drinking tea in your favorite office cup and moving the mouse at the same time seems fun.

So, what about you? What's your favorite time at work?

Thankful Thursday

Isn't this true?

Pic of the day

Winner of National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2012
Photo credit: Lucia Griggi

Of Leeks and Chicken Soup

My first brush with leeks was in the book of Exodus (Bible) where the people of Israel craved for it from the land of Egypt. Ah there! I kept wondering what kind of vegetation it was that made them miss it so much.

Couple of days back, I had the privilege of setting my eyes on leeks. I needed it for a soup I was preparing for my family. Spicy chicken mushroom soup that needed a dash of leeks as a part of the recipe. It resembles the spring onions we know of.

The dish came out really well and I must confess the leeks did a good job in improving the flavors of the chicken soup on the whole.

Thank you Mr. Leeks!

Song of Hope

This is a beautiful song about the birth of Christ.

The lyrics. What can I say?

"The Word made flesh, Emmanuel
 The Everlasting Light
 Let the warmth of Heaven reach the coldest heart
 With the gospel of His grace"

Rejoice

Friday it is!

Virtual Detox

I never thought I would need one. The amount of time spent on social media literally drained me of precious time.

C’mon what was I getting in reading people’s status updates on how bored they are or their evaluation about a movie that they just saw. Do I really need to know about the recent photo update or their likes?

Finally, for the first time I am off that social networking site for good and I pray and hope forever. I am thankful for the friends I connected with and for the wonderful quotes that encouraged my soul in times of discouragement. But I don’t need to spend endless hours browsing and scrolling on the news feed to feel happy.

It’s been almost a week that I am off it and I feel liberated. More time at hand, no more frustration. No pressure about removing friends and all that jazz!

Sanity is back and life goes on without a trace. I hope.

Tomato Coriander Soup

What more to ask in this weather? Warm, flavorful, and delicious and not to mention a bowlful. A bit of tweaking with the ingredients to suit to your style and there you are...tomato coriander soup!...without the bread of course ;)

Rains are here!

Weakness

Lack of strength? That I cannot manage things on my own?

How would you define weakness? Or let me put in a better way for you. What are the many ways you try to conceal your weakness?

I don't like to show people that I am weak. I don't want to take help when I am struggling. I don't want any advice. Thank you very much! The world crowns the one who is strong; the one who is an undertaker. But everyday, it is a humble reminder of how weak I really am.

We are so wired to be self-reliant, self-dependent, and self-sufficient that seeking any kind of help seems demeaning. But the fact of the matter is that if I am human then I am really weak.

The bible says that we are of the dust. (Genesis 3:19b).  God knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103) Hah, if I only recalled that DAILY!!

Everyday when I wake up in the morning, I need strength to carry on doing what I must. Grace to see myself as God sees and humbly acknowledges my true frailty and weakness. Then and only then, I will cry out to Him for help! Help to fight my sin on a minute by minute basis, help to be cheerful in the midst of impending uncertainty, help to always to look at Christ.

So, is weakness good? For me it is, as it draws me to Christ who is reliable, dependable and all sufficient!

 ^“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

Friends

A good friend is rare to find. A best friend is for keeps. This is one thing I have learned in this God-given life of mine that friends are God's best gifts to us.

No wonder it says in the Bible," Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17) God's gifts are good and perfect and it does not lack in anything. Wow. 

Friends bring joy into our lives, hold you up when you stumble or fall. They are patient with your weaknesses and compassionate in our failings. A true friend will stay with you through every change of season. In the recent years, I have come to appreciate friends in a better light. 

No wonder, Jesus said, " My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:12-15)

Thank God for friends! :)

Simply Garfield

Summer is here

Make the most of it!