Don't be confined into your comfort zone
It feels safe inside but it slows down growth
Break the routine, it has become boring
Learn a new thing and feel the adrenaline
Open your mind, broaden your horizon
Make a shift, take new calculated risks
And experience unprecedented growth
The only one who can stop you is You
The person you need to do it is You.

By loving God is how
you learn to yourself.
By loving yourself is how
you learn to love others.
By loving others is how
you show that you love God.

What God started for me in the physical
He's finished it already in the spiritual
On the journey, if my legs tremble or
when it seems like I am out of moves
I am confident that God will come through
Because I know His word is forever true
He's called me the head and not the tail
He's the God Almighty who doesn't fail
He's gone ahead of me and left me trails
All the things He's said, I'll bring to pass
That all the glory might be to His Holy Name.

I am black — And Yes, our lives matter
But beyond that, all lives matter to God
Irrespective of race, age, social class or gender
He laid down His life to pay the sins of ALL,
Every human being — living and the unborn
He did a perfect work and He said it's done
He called us all into one body – of Christ
The only thing that'll keep us joined is LOVE
Regardless how we might appear on the outside
We all need to see and accept us as one
And that's the only way we can truly live —
in peace and happily!

10 commandments summed up
into 2 with only 1 theme — Love
Love the Lord thy God.
Love your neighbor as yourself.

A winner does get beaten
But he doesn't succumb to defeat
With every punch that lands on him,
He feels the pain and he learns from it
He avoids being hit by the same error
And if he happens to get hit again,
he hurts, recovers and gets back at it again
Life may knock him down many times
But he chooses to bounce back each time
It does occur to him to give it all up but
He pushes on, strives with blood, sweat and tears
Until his set goals are achieved and/or exceeded
Only that most never see his struggling phase(s) and
they'll think & say it all happened overnight.
How he wished that it was that easy.

Walk it like I talk it
I guess we can all agree that
It's easier to talk it than to walk it
So this year, let's do the walking first
And let our results do the talking
Because results speak louder than voice.

He's done it for me already,
I'm placed in the center of His blessings.
Like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
Unperturbed in the time of heat.
Evergreen. Flourishing. Bearing fruits.
Divine health. Sufficient. Peace of mind.
Direction. Illumination. Fulfillment.
Overflowing testimonies. Greatness.
All for me to bask in. Oh, I'm so thankful.

My Lord, thanks for your unwavering love
I feel undeserving for all you've done for me
Even though, sometimes I do wrong
It didn't stop you from calling me son
Even if I have a thousand tongues,
they can't praise You enough
Thanks for the things that
I prayed for and I received
Thanks for the ones I didn't receive
because You know better
Thanks for the ones you sent my way without me asking
Thanks for the blessings that I see and those that are not visible to my eyes
You alone deserve all my praises Lord.

Don't let the fear of failure
stop you from failing
Because each failed attempt
is a step towards success
Painful experiences sometimes
lead us to beautiful discoveries
If you think trying and failing is bad
I tell you, failing to try is worse.

2020 is not the year to beat the air
The first required move is to find
and establish purpose, because
Without a life goal, life will seem meaningless
A life with a clear purpose is not driven by
comparison.
It maintains focus in its own lane.
It doesn't partake in the rat race, rather
It tries to figure out its own place, then
It looks to master that space.
2020 promises to be a bright year
Taking risks cannot be avoided,
The ones to be taken must be calculated
Giving up on one's dream is a risk
Investing in one's purpose is a risk as well.
Choose to begin the year strong and
Plan to finish the year much more stronger.
Be conscious and careful with every decision and action.

2019 is about to be over
This is not the time to be bitter
because of unachieved goal(s)
Do not allow regrets to fill the air
Even if the year looked unproductive

Consider it a blessing to be alive
'cause that's an opportunity to get it right
Let the successes and/or lessons of 2019
serve to boost your zeal
Choose to be fired up from within

Fill your heart & mouth with gratitude
Thankfulness is a door opener and
A catalyst in attaining higher altitudes
2020 promises to be bright & fulfilling
Get your spirit right & be enthusiastic

We came into this world empty-handed
And that's the same way we'll leave
So, what's the need for all the greed!
We have but a short time here to live
compared to the rest of eternity
Why are we so engrossed in these physical things
Forgetting or neglecting that we are spiritual beings

We perpetrate evil for our wants—excessive money, power or fame
At the expense of our peace of mind, which is a need
Who gives up what he needs for what he wants!
Well, there's many like that in the world today
Go after things that are of eternal values
Because life here is just a tiny fraction
of what comes after.

I see the pain hidden behind your smiles
I know you've been hurting for quite a while
You don't want to speak because you think nobody cares
You don't want to be called weak, is that your fear?
Every night, you can't help but soak your pillow with tears
In the morning, when asked...how are you doing today?
You're fast to say "I'm very fine, thank you!"
But you wish someone could see that
your answer isn't true
That's exactly why I'm writing you today
I'm not promising to take all the pain away
But I promise you my rapt attention
I will listen to every word you have to say
A problem shared is a problem halved
Let us both get the burden off your chest
Listen my friend, You're very loved and
You deserve nothing but the best.

Different gifts trigger different emotions in us
If you ask me what I think, I would say...
A gift of cash can possibly be squandered
A gift of flower would wither and die
A gift of art could possibly last a lifetime
Material gifts can be lost, stolen or lose value in our eyes
A gift of feedback or advice could turn a life around
But there is no gift like a heartfelt prayer
It could open the doors to one's heart desires
A heartfelt prayer could deliver blessings:
Spiritual, physical, emotional & even more

. Knowing how to make it happen is not
required in believing that it will happen
Believing usually comes before achieving
But committing to the work is necessary
Because faith without work results in "no result".

It's okay to not know how to achieve your dreams
If you don't back down but keep going at it
Pushing through the rocky and rough roads
Believing... despite all the ups and lows
You'll look back one day & be amazed
At all that you've been able to accomplish.

Beauty is more than having a face
That looks like a palette of paint
Beauty is more than flat abs & curvy waist
More than a shape that looks like figure 8
Beauty is more than having a big brain & plenty accolades
Beauty is not only in having broad chest, big arms & a muscular physique
All of these are attractive & good-to-have qualities but
Beauty isn't complete without a beautiful personality —
A kind heart with compassion & empathy
A sense of awareness & self-love abilities
Complete beauty is a combination of
Physical & non-physical attributes.

I have called you into a glorious life
I've put My glory all over you & inside you
Don't be deceived that the glory is lost
Because, forever, I have made it yours
Keep this always in your consciousness
Approach life with a mindset of blessedness
The glory would not obstruct challenges
But it guarantees victory over the obstacles
Go and produce results with what I've
deposited inside you. Go!

How could we live as one people
When a lot of us care about our
own selves alone, forgetting that
actions have repercussions

We have a lot of things in common
But somehow we choose to direct
our focus on our little differences
Being right is not always a win,
especially when it creates division

It requires a collective force for us
To rise together, hand in hand lifting
one another.
More collaboration than competition
That's how we become a unified global nation.

I put all my trust in God
He's the firm foundation on which I stand
Other grounds are nothing but quicksands
I've submitted all of me into His hands
And I look to Him before making my plans
He nourishes my mind with creative ideas
And He blesses the works of my hands
In all my endeavours, He gives me an edge
He's also blessed me with sound health
All the days of my life, on this Rock will I ever stand.

Whether a hit or a miss
Not relenting is Key!
Because things are not always
exactly as they seem
If allowed, a single win can
hinder subsequent bigger wins
And a loss can cause a person
To give up on his/her dreams
But breakthroughs are always
closer than they seem
Keep your lights shining
Don't let anything dull your gleams
Keep pushing until all your goals
are achieved.

There's so much hurting in the world today
Countries are hurting other countries
Governments are hurting their own people
Employers are hurting their employees
Employees do the same to their employers
Parents are hurting their kids & vice versa
Spouses are hurting their other halves
Friends are hurting one another
Even strangers are hurting strangers
People are hurting the environment
The environment is hurting the people
Sicknesses are ravaging people's bodies
Individuals also hurt their own self
I'm guilty of some of these myself
My diagnosis of these hurts is self-centeredness —
People care about themselves alone!
My prescription is more and more doses
of love & empathy.

How do you celebrate my birthday
Without mentioning my name
I wonder if this is how Jesus feels.
Instead of spreading My message
Majority are engrossed in shopping deals
True celebration is the celebration of salvation
We (humans) 're the reason for the season
The reason for which Jesus left His throne,
Was born, went through pain, died, arose
(And in the process)
Paid for our sins, set us free,
delivered to us a new life,
made us One with Himself & with the Father
This is what Christmas is.
The celebration of freedom from sin
& ushering of divinity into humanity.

Drop the guns, don't do drugs
Addicted?...Seek professional help
Your life matters. Yes, a lot.
Your future has beautiful things in store
Don't give them up
Don't take away your loved ones joy
Your life is precious
No matter how horrible things may seem
Your life is worth preserving
This isn't a guilt trip but a message of hope
To drugs, guns or anything lethal, say no
Inside you is a hero, waiting to be revealed
Choose to live and truly live!

I was born to win
No matter what comes against me
I'll always come out a winner
I can't be kept down, I'll always rise
No darkness can stand my light
Not by my power, not by my might
I carry divinity on the inside
I will reach my desired height
I live a purposeful & productive life
This light of mine will always shine
Greatness and splendor is mine
I'll always win 'cause I was born to win

In every situation, give thanks
When things fall into place,
lift up your holy hands
When things seem out of order,
still let your praises rise
Be grateful for the presence of life
When there is life, hope is still alive
Irrespective of what the year looked like,
Let thanksgiving proceed from your mouth
A grateful heart is bound to be blessed (even more)

If I write my wrongs in cursive
Would you still find me impressive
Or would you turn your praises to curses
If I tell you about my past flaws
Will you see me as a monster with claws
Or a human that only went off course
Would you judge me or love me
If I lay my heart bare, can you bear it?

In every 12, they say you'll find a Judas
That's why my circle has a small radius
Even the loyal ones can still break your trust
Read the Bible, 3 times Peter denied Jesus

Lots of faux well-wishers, enemies in disguise
They smile to your face but bitter inside,
Rejoice with you but wish for your demise
You don't want to be around these guys

Before you banish the fakes from your circle
Ensure you're not a *** yelling black kettle
You have to be your brother's keeper
Offering true loyalty to one another.

When I forgave you,
I didn't do it for you.
I did it for me,
So that I might be free.

Choosing to not forgive,
Is to rub salt in my own wound.
The deed has already been done,
I won't allow the hurt to compound.

So I forgave your trespasses,
That my wound might fully heal.
Though the scars are still visible,
My heart towards you is totally clean.

You can't legally treat them differently
any more because of their skin color  
So you slap them with criminal records,
To give yourself a reason to treat them
In a way you won't even treat animals.

Those chains and cages are nothing new,
We've seen them before in history
******, criminal, ex-felon...Different tactics,
Same goal – Subjection & Oppression
Crookedness spanning through generations,
It's high time these wickedness be stopped!

I am the Rose that
rose from the concrete
I have seen the dark days
But now I bask in the light
They thought I'll never emerge
Now my head's well above ground,
Floating high in the clouds
Try to cut me down and
Watch my Angels put up a fight
Those mighty guardians by my side
Never happen to go out of sight
This is not the Rose that can be trapped
This Rose will always rise.

"I am not enough", what a deceitful feeling
Deep within resides power with no limits
The road ahead might appear unclear
The pressure might seem too much to bear

But the strategy is to keep on pushing
Through thick and thin, to keep on moving
To strike out quitting from the options
To embrace all the journey's emotions

Deep within us lies all that it takes
To become whoever we decide to be
"I am not enough" is a lie to get us stuck
Engrave the "I can" mindset in your thoughts.

At the wake of each day,
I say, today will be the
best day of my life
It's said that, whatever vibe
you release to the universe,
will come back to manifest

Plus I invest my best into the day
So I can boldly say I played my part
And when I lay in bed to sleep at night,
No matter what the day looked like,
I express my gratitude to be back alive
That's my adopted way of life.

I hope all these smart things
would not eventually turn us
into unsmart beings.

As these tools seem to be of great help,
Are we thus challenging our brains less?

As these smart tools save us time,
Are we productively investing
the saved minutes?

A few questions (out of many) to ponder!

I got my eyes focused on these goals
But after hearing these so many No-s
I think it's beginning to take a toll
Motivation and drive is dropping low

But No-s don't depict the end of the road
They are but mountains to be scaled
They leave you with tales to be told
Go through the emotions but do not fold

Mistakes, no-s & losses are points
Along the long success road
To quitting, I boldly say No
Knowing that the big break is very close.

I heard that love could possibly turn sour
I said, may that story never be ours
They said people do fall out of love
I said, may we be able to hold it together
even if the times become rough
I can't guarantee you days without storms
But I'll always be there to keep you warm
The kind' love that inspires & never expires
Even at the age when we become retired
May the love stay strong and untired
May it burn in our eyes like molten magma
Soft & undying love, whole & alive forever!

The eggshell is an important layer of protection
To the growing embryo that is within the egg
Which implies that the shell's function
is to support the embryo's growth

However, when the embryo grows & turns to a chick,
The shell (of protection) now becomes a barrier
That the chick needs to peck & break through
In order to live to its full potential

That's a true story of how
The thing that provides comfort  
Later turns to act as a limitation.
What is that comfort that you've enjoyed
But is now holding you back
From being the person you ought to be
Maybe it's time to peck, to break through
And become who you were made to be!

When I look into your eyes
All I see is a paradise
No lies, I think I'll forever be enticed
I want to bask in those eyes everyday
Every night, by you, I want to lay
I promise to do whatever it takes,
To forever keep you my bae
Promise me that, come what may,
By my side, you'll stay
Till the end of our days.

Life will sometimes throw at you, punches,
In attempts to break through your defences
Because out there exists an adversary,
he's the root of sins, hatred and misery
he's likened to a roaring lion roaming,
looking for who to devour
Millennia ago, this enemy saw defeat
And Christ gave to us the victory
Christ placed this enemy under our feet
Howbeit, he's a master of lies and tricks,
he goes about deceiving and gimmicking
But he's a powerless and defeated foe
If you put on the whole armor of God,
(Ephesians 6:10-18)
You'll put the enemy where he belongs
The victory was already proclaimed ours
Come what may, stand tall like a tower.

I turned my wishes to verses
And sang it to the universe
And to my surprise, my desires
began to appear before my eyes
She must have enjoyed my tune,
My words & reality, she attuned.

Speak your wishes into existence,
Your tongue is a powerful tool
Whichever you say: "I can" or "I can't",
Ultimately becomes your truth.
Consciously pick the words that
proceed from your mouth.
Choose gracious, lifting, life-giving words.

This feeling that I'm loved by God
continues to be my strength,
The reason I believe I can reach
my desired length.
No matter how steep the *****
Regardless how rough the road
His abilities in me makes me able
Though my faith sometimes tremble,
His faithfulness stays perpetually stable
May I not take His love for granted
Because that's my recipe for success
God in/with me, a duo that's limitless.

Love is the best investment,
Not the love of material things
that could vanish into the thin air
like evaporation.
But the love of things that possess life
Like self, family, friends, the environment.
The dividends of investing in love gets
paid out in: peace of mind, forgiveness,
happiness, contentment, health,
togetherness... amongst other
numerous beautiful benefits.

As I humbly bow at Your feet,
You cause me to soar above defeat.
I found gratefulness as one of the keys
to the door of happiness.
Though there's more to be achieved,
It's good to celebrate this current feat.
After all, the race is not always to the swift.
Gratitude can act as a switch
To turn from confusion to clarity,
From gloomy to bloomy,
From messy to orderly.
There must be something that
You should be grateful for, search within!

Touring goes beyond visiting places
It also includes meeting different faces
And yes, I saw a number of places & faces,
But there was this one face in particular
(She happened to be my tour leader)
There's a way she talks and smiles
simultaneously that's so spectacular
It comes out of her unforced, it's so natural

Knowledgeable, passionate, calm
And very compassionate she was.
She told stories of the different places
we visited fluently & impeccably
Severally, she pulled laughs out of me
And filled me back with delicious meals

An icing on the cake was hearing her
tell her own personal story
A story of resilience and bouncing back.
$30 in her pocket at age seventeen,
With no single English word in her mouth
She packed her backpack, moved from Asia to America alone, & the States did hit
her in the face with reality

Down times and low moments couldn't
keep her down, at least not for long
Uneasy but She fought & pushed through
Weathered the storm...
Became an Author (The $30 Journey),
a motivator & above all, a happy person.
She rubbed her joyfulness & positivity on me

It was a 3-day journey like none other,
I'm looking forward to another.

When I'm in your presence,
I present my presence
to you like a present,
Always mindful to be present
in every present moment.