Who have we failed to see?

Who have we failed to see in the social integration of success? Have we failed to see the ones that took the blows, the sharp words, and unrelenting barrage of vile exchanges upon their backs with no rapid retorts, so others could have an opportunity for better? Regardless of color, gender or social economic status, someone made it possible for each of us to be in the place where we are, with certain freedom our forbearers did not have but it is incumbent upon us to remember. Have we gotten so vain and so self absorb, we do not stop to engage anyone who on the surface seem weak, but who are mighty and resilient. Because we say to ourselves – I wouldn't do that; do they not have any backbone – Not realizing others took the pain and strain, so we would be afforded the opportunity to claim victory and success in untapped and uncharted waters. See, it is not an accident we have the kind of opportunity, the wealth, the access to be seen for our innovativeness, and the myriad choices we have. Someone paid a price, and some are still paying a price for us, so we can, even though they know, they never will enjoy. Too many times we fail to see others have worn the mask so we could claim the crown. Others took the fall, so we could achieve. Others walked, stood, fought or smiled, so we could climb without the scars of the struggles. We must see beyond the mask, the surface, and find the truth so we can thank them for their truth and willingness to sacrifice beyond for the moment but for the future that brings both legacy and longevity. Not so we could walk around with a distend image of our self. Not so we could create and use the creation to separate rather than bring us closer, allow us to be more forgiving rather than holding to unforgiveness, teach lessons that we all have value, and we all have different purpose but this does not make us better than the next person. For with all greatness, for all accomplishments, in whatever form, we have a responsibility to carry, to do the waltz of life with confidence laced with humility for the generation behind us, and for each other…Who have failed to see may just be you and me, for we live in a fraction of our potential because we run from the struggles that strengthens us and our resolve…Gen. 50:20 – You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. (HSCB)

The Blessings lies in our brokenness

What happens when we fail to submit and accept the breaking? What happens when we do not choose it, it chooses us? What happens when all we knew is reveal as a lie? What happens when we are tied up, tangled up, and wrapped up in façade that falls apart, as you see life really is just a stage? We are broken and have to start anew from this moment, and you realize, from in this moment I am  reborn. Then, you see, you choose the way to respond, it is your choice, and the journey begin. No one can make you or tell you how to respond; it truly it is your choice. You begin to see the failure to respond and the lies made you miss the blessings that lied in the brokenness and surrendering that occurs in your life; you lost out. You understand, you now know, how you have lost sight of the bigger picture, the better way, and the process necessary because all of this, the struggle, the brokenness endows the character with substance and value creating unlimited opportunities for God to use ‘me’. You able to be reintroduce yourself to yourself. You see the divine correction directives toward you, were really for your good. The disparities once seen as hindrances are now embraced as loving touches from God, fashioning you into the original promised being at your creation. You are able to breathe, you are eager for the touch of grace, you are longing for the air to wash fresh upon your soul. You begin to relax in what seems to be an invertedparadigm of truth but God’s way. Through tear filled and streaming eyes, you see barriers begin to be broken, bridges are miraculously built, and illumination whispers truths…as it reign firm on your spirit and rest. The reality of this awareness, the blessing lies in the brokenness, lights upon your skin sending an electrical like current that lulls you in a shout of HOSANNA and calmness called peace. For God is your only judge, and he decides, not another man, about your worth or what matters they are only here to help you on your walk in Christianity, and gives tender mercy redemption. You finally give yourself permission to become you, the authentic you, birth so long ago…. For blessings do lie in the brokenness. Gen. 32:28-29 -"Your name will no longer be Jacob,"He said. "It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked Him, "Please tell me Your name." But He answered, "Why do you ask My name?" And He blessed him there. (HCSB)

The knots in our life

People sacrifice the present for the future. But life is available only in the present – Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist Monk


The knots in our life

Matt 12:36-37 –“But here is what I tell you. On judgment day, people will have to account for every careless word they have spoken. By your words you will be found guilty or not guilty. (NIRV)"

The knots in our life are created by our way of thinking, fear, refusal of change, and more importantly the words we have spoken, and not spoken. My friend told me about a statement he heard on television – You are trying to untangle a knot that took 6 years to create, and it will not be unraveled quickly. When I heard it, it struck a chord with me. I immediately saw the knotted necklace that takes me awhile to untangle. Sometimes I have to put it away because it is so frustrating, and not wear it until a later date. When I am asked, why you didn’t wear the other necklace? I lie, make up a flighty story and move on. I then try again, then find out as I unwind, untangle one knot, another one appears. I become angry, put it away again, or asked for help from another person but try to tell them how to do the untangling rather than listening, watching, and learning; ringing a bell... Then we wondering how did, this necklace get so knotted up. Then I think back on my careless and carefree ways of just throwing it into the jewelry box unthinking, and moving it around so I could get at something else. Wow! Epiphany moment here, I realize it started with a ‘me’ focus. I concluded this is what happens to each of us when we decide to live in,with a ‘me focus,’ then we begin living with paranoia that results in fear, unforgiveness, denial, or traditions, that have lost their meaning in translation. We live our lives driven and order by our emotions in an exact precision process of incremental steps that lead to a knotted life. Then we wake up, and want it fix everything that took weeks, months, and for some, years to create but you desire an immediate fix; not so much. We have willingly foregone authenticity for the ease and the convenience as well as the immediate response. Yet God calls, and we answer. Now, there is some heavy lifting required and more than a minute is necessary to unknot those troubles. It is overwhelming, and then we walk away because we do not want to deal with the frustration or the anger, or the hurt it brings, or the truth it shall show. So, I challenge each of you to ask yourself - What knots am I creating currently with my fear and insecurity and justifying with my words or my silence because it is easy. What knots do I live with that is slowly, but without fail, destroying me and shall taint those connected to me? When shall I begin the healing journey that changes my words and put me in the ethical space governed by a faith shaped by an encompassing God who redeems?

Prov. 14:1 - A wise woman builds her house. But a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands. (NIRV)

We say we love the LORD…but do we trust (h)im

We say, we love the Lord but we questioned his plan for our lives when we decide, we know better and become disobedient. We struggle with the experiences we go through, or fight with the submission required to rise; all because we do not trust. Yes, I said trust, it is something we all struggle with because we desire to be in the knowing. However, let us be honest, if God showed us what we would have, or would have to go through, we would be no darn good for nobody!...


We say, I love the Lord, and he heard my cry but we fail to trust him because He does not see things, like we see things. He does not subscribe to the ideology, we find palatable and appropriate. Yet, we are asked over and over again, do you trust me while you love me? We for some reason think trusting and loving are synonymous; it is not, but it should be. See, loving someone means to have an affection shown toward someone, while trusting is the confidence in the person certainty to do the thing s/he say they will…Hmmmm that is GOD!…Now, we love God but we do not trust God because if we did, we would not start wondering if he would really provide, and does what is best for us, and our good before we seek his advice. We would not try to do His job, or correct His plan for us, or chastise his children because he was not timely enough for us. God is never late, but He does not work on our time. Although, we know this when the thing is happening to another person, we forget it when it is happening to us. Yet, we are quick to repeat these verses in the bible without understanding what they mean – Hab. 2:3 - …Though it linger, wait for it…Jer. 29:11-… For I know the plans I have for you… Psalm 139:13 - … you knit me together in my mother's womb…-; Job 31:15-… Did not he who made me in the womb make them…- ; and Jer. 1:5 -… before you were born I set you apart…..So, the next time you say, Lord I love you, check yourself and see if you are just loving on God, or have you really relied on him to do just what He said; even the day is hard, the vision is week, the wounds are fresh, the struggle is excruciating, and you are in a wasteland experience…just remember and back on this….2 Cor. 12-7-10 ‘Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong (NASB).

It is time to be the change

Learning to see your experiences directs you to your destiny and imperative to your peace, helps you to grow. Understanding God will not reveal more to you, until you are willing to obey truths with you currently will stop you from wondering how long, or when. Realizing time is precious and not a recyclable good, gives you a perspective that helps you to see the implications bigger than you and right now. Listening for that still small voice rich luster vibrations that changes lives and direction, grants a wholeness unmatched or untouched. Recognizing all of this is within our grasp, then the question we must ask ourselves is - do we let the time consumed with an unforgiving heart just pass us by thinking because we can, we do, and that is just how it is done; is okay?.. I say, not so. We all must re-examine ourselves and re-evaluate self, so that we understand how we are spending our time tells the world more of who we are and where our focus is without us saying a word…See, Madame Guyon got it right- it is the fire of suffering that brings forth the gold of godliness. Because in our suffering the pain to get through to the other side is not a bargaining chip to be use to gain relief; it is too expensive...Obama is right, it does not matter what side you are on politically, sooner are later we all have to recognize, we cannot continue business as usual if progression is the desired goal. We cannot deny the pain of correction for the sake of being right at the expense others, or for the right to be in the ‘high seats’; this is selfish. The one holding all the marbles, controlling all the chips, and blocking all access points still dies and takes nothing but their soul to the other side. So, time has come to put aside the tragedies of yesterday, latent hits of rhetoric of today to move forward with a comprehensive initiative that not only reaches across the aisle in theory but in implementation and application because egos are left on the schoolyard where they belong. While we bring the power broker of self-sacrifice to takes center stage. Jesus, meant for us all belong to the Father and own it, for we all have the right to the robust gift of living our truth, without fear or trepidation. Otherwise, we will never overcome the evil of the self-impressed ego that reside in each of us because we never took the time to listen to the voice, the timbre, to see the gift in giving up the hold on what brings nothing but division. Letting go for the greater good grants the ultimate and the most precious…1 Kings 3:23-27- The king said, "This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.' Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other." The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!" Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother. (NIV)" …the heart that sees self-sacrifice allows you to let go, and is free to move forward unhindered when you aligned with the Father…It is time to be the change you wish to see without waiting on anyone, because changes begins with one person choosing to stand!

So, what are you going to do?

I am not sure what to write about today? So I am going to ramble about something that bugs me…I am wonder what do we do with the knowledge we have? The skill set we have acquired? The gifts we were given by God; you know your gifts and talents were meant to be shared, right… Are we willing to share with others? Do we take time out of our busy day to listen to someone else without trying to make them impress with us and our skills, rather seeking to be impressed with them? Are we so consumed with ‘making it big’, whatever that means to you, we fail to help others who are trying to make it too but have no guidance or direction? Do we rest on traditions, what we are use to, as a compass because it easy, and hope someone else does the work so you can go in? Do we think life will not catch up with us, and so our self-absorbed ways of dropping names, throwing in our degrees or expertise, and spitting out our titles or position? Can we not see no one cares about any of these things, unless it brings benefit and growth to them? What are we afraid of that we fail to share with others? Lift someone else up, not at the expense of self, but expansion of self. See lighting another candle with your light does not diminish you. It actually enhances you, and brings more light for all. Why do we wallow in our insecurities, fear, and aloofness pushing people away? Yet, we assume and proclaim we are helping but as soon as someone seeks you out for help assistance, or guidance we feign unavailability because it is not a convenient time for us. When is giving of ourselves ever convenient? Yet, we have the nerve to get upset when others do this to us? Let’s get real. Giving of self is never convenient, not always financially beneficial, or easy. However, we quickly share ourselves in ineffective endeavors which inflate our heads while diminishing our heart. We too quickly surround ourselves with others who feed our ego, but not challenge our intellect or put our integrity to the test. We shy away from, avoid with a vengeance, pretend integrity, and hide behind our intellect so that we do not have be honest with self and live our truth. Because the person who seek your knowledge, desires to learn from you, you forget to call, or reach out as you see their greatest before they do; you do not want anyone else to be greater than you. What if that is your lot to help the one to be the one, does that not make you great? When will we get it, the most precious thing we have in this life is ourselves and our time…John 3:17, yeah 17 not 16 states - For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (NIV). Christ came to save the world and he did it through sacrifice of self and time in order to reach out to others. For He realized the reward of reaching out to those who sought him out, and those who needed him was necessary, although it was not always easy, convenient or followed the tradition of that day…So, when are we going to begin living, giving and being the example of Christianity we teach, preach, and sermonize about, or we just going to let the darkness swallow us whole slowly with delays because it is not easy for us…Psalm 103:17-18 - But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts (NIV)…So, what are you going to do…as for me, I am going to live, as hard as it is, as inconvenient as it will become, the precepts, how about you?...

God is neither Historical and Hysterical:

Well I pray this entry find you doing well. Today at church, the minister said something that kind of stuck with me, so I decided share. God is neither hysterical or historical; wow…Meaning He does not over react because of a short fuse or sensitivity base on someone actions or statements. Historical meaning he has a short memory, not a bad memory; he chooses to forget and not hold our iniquities and indiscretions against us; he is not like man. He simply choose to let things go; he has a heart of forgiveness…Now the questions we have to ask ourselves is – why are we so hysterical, dramatic, quick to go off in certain or all areas that strike us wrong, unnecessarily? Also, historical, what good does it do for us to rehash what has happened in the past to us or against us, when we fight or try to make a point? Then I recognized, we choose because of unresolved issues; lessons not learned; less than authentic lives, we live; and self imposed insecurity and fears. Why? We value the opinions of others, more than we value God infallible truths, we want to impress others with ‘me’ and forget we have a choice in who we believe or gravitate to; free will. See the old school yard chant of - it is not what you are call, but what you answer to; we choose or accept what is true. Yet, we cannot help ourselves. This result from us denying our weaknesses, and putting them in a dark, dank, hidden places with shameful label. Thus, we have triggers, so when someone get close to it with words, action, or touch it, unbeknownst to the person, we react. All because we forgot, we are told by our savior in our weakness, he is strong. This is only difficult because we deny the truth of who are…hmmmm

Therefore, it is easier to be hysterical to redirect and create confusion by being hysterical andhistorical; God is not the author of confusion, Satan is. Now, we can identify why the madness ensues and strife, division develops because the our focus is askewed…While we go historical because we do not comprehend, truly, God takes all things ( good/bad, depressing/exciting, and abundance/lack times to teach, reach, bless, draw,) to equip us. He cannot do so because we focus on the wrong thing, self. God never focus on self, it is always our good. Yet, we focus on man, and the popular opinion polls we hear. See both Hysterical and Historical are both self-destructive mind-set fertilizing the breeding grounds for malice. So ask yourself, why do I go historical and get hysterical? Think about it, it does not improve anything, only make all things worse. ..Prov. 4:24-26 Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. (HCSB)..Think about it Hysterical or historical neither of them serves a purpose BUT GOD saves!