2023....A YEAR OF CHANGE FOR ME

 

     Well, here it is!! The end of yet another year. Wow, time sure does fly by fast! I probably have said that my whole life but it really is true! Time sure flies by! I look back on 2022 with many fond memories, many challenges, many victories and yes even some defeats. All in all it has been a good year because God is good all the time! 

     I think about where I was on January 1, 2022. I was working one job with Chick Fil-A and I had just gotten over having Covid 19. Let's just say I kind of limped into that New Year not only with Covid but also with the beginnings of back problems. I know you all know the story how I got involved with my church etc. etc. so I won't go into all that. September 4, 2022 was a special day for me as I was installed as the Pastor of Outreach  and Children's Ministry at Lift Jesus Higher Fellowship in Rocky Point, NY. Lately however, I have seen many changes happening in my life. To start with, my landlady Jane went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, November 12. I was there with the family to say "Goodbye" to her. Jane was a second Mom to me and she will be missed. What I did not know was the financial troubles Jane faced. She was always very private about her life, her health and any challenges she was facing. Due to her financial difficulties, her house would be going into foreclosure which meant I had to begin looking for a new place to live. Let's just say Jane gave me a very sweet deal living upstairs in her home. I knew it would have to be a miracle from God to have that same sweet deal. I also continued to struggle with my back. Working at Chick Fil-A at 6 a.m. getting the restaurant ready was not helping me. I pleaded with God to help me either find a new job or help me find another part time job that was not physical. God provided for me a second part time job in a lawyers office as a Customer Service Rep! I will be working there Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Before anyone says "Your leaving Chick Fil-A???? NO!!!!! YOU CAN'T!!! Don't worry, I'm not. I'm working at Chick Fil-A Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. This all begins Tuesday, January 3rd! 

     Now, for the other change. God blessed me with a new place to live. I prayed, many family members prayed and many friends prayed! God answered our prayers on my behalf as I found an amazing place to live! And it's close to my new job! Change is good but to be brutally honest I was never good with change as a kid. I never liked it when my Mom changed the living room around or when the teacher in elementary school moved our desks. I was one of those kids who wanted everything to be the same. That's probably why I had a tough time moving from New Jersey to New York when I was 9 years old. As an adult I embrace change because I know God is at work! This leads me to say one last thing. There is one thing that never changes and that's Jesus. It says in Hebrews 13:8 - He is the same yesterday, today and forever! He will never ever ever change. Thank God for that!! 

     So I enter into 2023 expecting challenges, victories, defeats and more reasons to trust in God 24/7. I hope you all do as well! It's yet another year of writing more blogs for you all!

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GOD'S BLESSINGS!!