Because we asked…

Because we asked, God gave. Because we asked, God stopped in the heavenlies and sent a grace connection. Because we asked, life was turned into an uncomfortable place, to provide opportunity for us to see. Because we asked, we received what we needed, not what we wanted, and we were disappointed, and almost missed out on our blessing. Because we asked, we were granted our heart need, instead our perception and we were blessed beyond measure. Because we asked, we were taught, we much become a follower in God to become a leader in God’s, as it is above, it is beneath. Because we asked, we were taught a new arithmetic, we have to give to receive; in all things. Because we asked, we were taught humanity precepts are not in aligned with divinity percepts, and we have need to change our constructs. Because we asked, we were put in the unfamiliar to foster a different and expanded lens for the same landscape, so we could see the beauty around us and live freer.

Because we asked, we were had to travel some tumultuous valleys, and suffering some devastating losses, to see God’s grace is sufficient for us in our weakness, and we are never alone. Because we asked, God provided understanding for the absolute axiom; there is No crown, if there is No cross. Jesus set the example, the model, and his disciples provide the humanity touch for our understanding and the people who we teach about breathe life into the truths from the Living Word! Reread these verses again, clear a minute for God, and choose wisely…

2 Cor. 12:8-11 - Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(NIV)

Perceptions

Psalms 103:11-12 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,  so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (NIV).

Our perception is our reality, and it is based on our past experiences. It is not in some of us, but it is in all of us. We think, we are seeing with an objective eye but until we get in, and check the unresolved, the unaddressed, and the unremoved in our life, they color the lens we see through. No one is immune from it, and no one gets a free pass or an exemption from it. Yet, we say, we write, and we put out there, this - to get what you have never gotten, you have to do what you have never done. True as it is, it is implied in this statement, you are willing to move into, exist in the unknown for a season to achieve the desired goal. This is not the known, unknown it is the true unknown where you shall be confront with the fears, the pains, the unworthiness, as well as the envy and jealousy imbedded in our psyche and soul. For you will be confront with you, and you must decide. 

The decision challenges us to do what is right, and not just we have the right to do. Difficult as this is, remember God provides a way of escape it is call unconditional love signed in blood. Resulting in grace, unmerited favor, resting in our wake waiting for us to trust in the Living Word, obey the immutable God, and be comforted by the absolute Comforter. We need to understand those who love, not what you represent or have, love you; and the others that leave never really loved you and you didn’t really need them. It is your perceptions that stops you…Choose and watch God work!!!

If you are, who you say...

Matt. 27:42-43-“He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”


If you are who you say you are, then why don't you do. However, having the ability to do and not do that is the stuff separate the confident and the conceited; the faithful and faithless; the god-fearing and the god-hearing. At this moment, we see the truth character of a person as the popular is deferred to what has a lasting legacy. When the immediate is not the necessity, rather the future holds the importance of greater significance. 
Life changes, eyes have a new perspective as souls find rejuvenation, and the surrendering to divinity comes like the flood... We choose, the choice is ours.

What I almost forgot...

What I almost forgot is this, the call, the gift is upon us whether we desire or not. It is on my life whether I act on it, or not. If it is upon me, it is present for all to see because it is me. However, I shall miss the manifold blessings of it because I refuse to own, to surrender to it. I have let fear, the lack of finances and support to impede me. I forgot we make time, money, and effort for what we desire in this life; we choose. 
But then I had to back to this, where is your faith? You say, you believe but you don't trust and obey. What is up with that? Then I realize, what looks like crazy on an ordinary day is a divine appointment set by God. I do not get to miss it. I now see the same landscape but with new vision and a different focus. As I walk in my destiny and purpose, I 'get it', and rid myself of the negative Nancys and deceptive Dannys in my wake. I will let God do Him, and handle that madness as I move toward the godly positives and the divine truths.
Farewell fear, and hello my old but new friend grace, unmerited favor. I almost forgot what it felt like to have you with me. God's divine calculation and appointment what a blessing. We choose

Diversity Walk

My blog is a little different, I was asked  by my our Student Government Association (SGA) to speak at their last diversity event for the year. I was told to not make it too long...LOL...Below I have included it. Be blessed, and remember always your actions have impact whether it is intentional or not. Choose wisely...
Diversity Walk

First I would like to thank everyone for coming out tonight, and also thank Student Government Association (SGA) for asking me. I am the advisor but they did not have to ask me; I am honored. This walk is part of a decision made by SGA to address an issue that had come to them from a student here asking for assistance on this old habit but a different label – bullying. As they begin strategizing, more stories began to percolate about others being bullied because sexual-orientation, size, race, to name a few.  The decision were made by the SGA executive council to address the problems, that coincidentally falls under the umbrella of diversity. 

The diversity walk is the second event for SGA to bring awareness to this issue. The first was breaking the barriers that took place during the Fall semester.  Where SGA executive council members constructed a wall with sheetrock and plywood, inviting students to write the hurtful things that were said to them, and/or they found offensive. The wall was up for a week.  At the unveiling of the wall, Dr. LaTouche’ was invited as the guest speaker, to speak about the barriers. Dr. LaTouche’ explained how society consensus and norms are constructed and create barriers, not always intentional, because of cultural norms and accepted traditions. The wall stirred a little controversy to say the least when people actually saw what written on the wall, and the decision was made to put it behind a curtain, and take the explanation from on the side of the wall, and put it on the curtain so that everyone understood what it was about. At the end of week, all present, staff, students, administrator and faculty, were invited to symbolically ‘break the barriers’.

Tonight represent the culmination of their diversity program, and the intent of SGA is to show every one, Tarleton State University is a safe zone for all because we not only say we are family, we are. To show we can disagree without being disagreeable to one another.  We understand being disagreeable to what we disagree is about building walls, but not bridges to connect Tarleton Family. We accept each other, and believe you have the right to be you, without anyone weighing in with negativity to make you feel less than, or diminish your worth. Because if the truth be told, we all have something about our self, which another person could speak about in a negative light. In addition, we are all card carrying individuals of bias and personal prejudices as a result of our culture, faith, race, national origin, sexual orientation, social economic status, or learned core value from our upbringing. Yet, we came to school to expand not only enrich our academic knowledge base, expand our intellectual horizons, by challenging ourselves to move beyond the safe familiarity, comfort zone of the known to grow. Knowing it is not the landscape that has to change for change to begin, only our lens.

And lastly, whether we desire it or not, diversity is upon us, and we must face it with an open mind, or be left behind with a close one with walls that impede our desire progress. Knowing we cannot change the past, we do need to accept what we have done, and/or said through seeking and accepting the lesson.  So, as we take this walk around campus, think of one thing you can do to begin the change, you wish to see from this moment forward because each and every one of us represent a catalyst for change.

Whose report will you believe?

1 Sam. 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. (NASB)

Whose report will you believe? We too many time do what Saul, as in Saul and David, did; listen to man. We put too much stock into their voice, their rhetoric, their standard of living and being, until God’s voice become almost barely audible in our life. Yet, we say I am still standing on the word, we fall down but get up, or I am not perfect but I am here. Really? You are on the path of confusion doing all of this because man’s logical conclusion and illustration gave you illumination on a report that has no authenticity. But yet, like Saul we fear people, we allow them to intimidate us, or distract us long enough until it becomes our truth. So, all the words of God we speak are truth, but because we are living on a faulty foundation, we are deceived. See, God has given us His divine if then statement, if my people who call by my name, if you confess with your mouth, and try me and see if I will not open the windows of heaven, and if this is not enough, then check of John 15 it is full of if then statements. 

I started an intentional journey about three years ago now, and inspite the hell and chaos thrown at me. The support expected, promised, and believed, not coming from man, I never step away from what God’s report of me. Not always easy, because intentional actions, behavior glaring in my face, and I wanted to just take a mouth full of profanity and spew upon some folk, and bless them my truth, but I believed God’s report, and basked in amazing grace. His report pushed me forward, caress me into being reconciled until Himself, and I have no regrets of my choices, even if man does get it or understand it, but God. When we get it right with God by staying in the lane, you are supposed to be in, until HE moves you, it gives a peace, a balance, a rich enduring unconditional love that provide the quintessential rest we desire…

So let us take another look at this song, and see if we can get it right this time because He, our Father wants it all!!

I Surrender All
by Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896:

ALL to Jesus, I surrender; ALL to Him I freely give; I will EVER love and trust Him, In His presence DAILY live.
I surrender ALL, I surrender ALL, ALL to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender ALL.
ALL to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures ALL forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now.
I surrender ALL, I surrender ALL, ALL to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender ALL.
ALL to Jesus, I surrender; Make me, Savior, WHOLLY Thine; Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.
I surrender ALL, I surrender ALL, ALL to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender ALL.
ALL to Jesus, I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee; FILL me with Thy love and power; Let Thy blessing fall on me.
I surrender ALL, I surrender ALL, ALL to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender ALL.
ALL to Jesus I surrender; NOW I feel the sacred flame. O the joy of FULL salvation! Glory, glory, to His Name!
I surrender ALL, I surrender ALL, ALL to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender ALL.

We need more than information…

Neh. 2:7-8 -I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? ⁸ And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. (NIV)

We need more than information as we live our truth to follow the example of Jesus. We will need revelation as well as information. We need to do more than just know, but get it in our soul, in our thought pattern, and in our perspective. We must own knowing right does not always translate into doing right. It is more than a new deliver methodology or being providing an example, model or pattern; it is the committed convince soul and mind.  It is the intentional engagement to produce change and the willingness to submit to the process of the enhancement or enlightenment. However, this difficult to achieve when we are resting in a less than authentic place with self and others. See we do reap, what we sow in this life; it is not for something but all things. We must choose with a resolute position to get it right, and we seek the right way to do. It is beyond the standing in your light but also providing the room for others to shine because you are willing to shine with humility, not arrogance. 

It is the journey of the soul where we move away from the transference responsibility attitude, and accept accountability. Walking in authority, living in prosperity, and praising in authenticity daily, and it has nothing to do with conceit but confidence in the one we are serving. We get it right, my doing right as a seamless unconscious way about ourselves, as we are depended upon God divine calculation and illumination for our journey. Knowing the way without having revelation about the way is only results in confusion, and we all know God is not the author of confusion...but guess who is???