God is shifting things for you

God is shifting things in your life. The connection with one person will change your life forever.2 Chron 20:20... And I  do not know when, or who that person is. But I realized in the turning of the page, as I read Called Out of Darkness by Anne Rice, the conclusion she found to be profound and true. I do not have to understand it, or figure out if this or that was random, as we are quick to say, because God knows everything but we have freewill. He created all things, and our free will is where we fail because we do not want to do the following- surrender, trust, and love. None of which shall be easy, but it is the path we must travel to find the peace that alludes us. To find the life crave by us, and we must realize, and not rationalize away, God doesn't need us to argue His case in any court, we just need to admit, submit- not my will but Thy will be done. Come before God with a complete trust and faith that empowers you to stand, and become more relevant as a servant-leader in an expanded perspective. You finally get it; no more grappling the absolute because in God it is the absolute. And as time returns, truth is revealed and even though difficulties shall surely come the light shines in the darkness, and my soul leaps because Jesus sacrifice is finally comprehended by me. Words fail me now because how do you describe a moment where the sublime, the complex, the holy, the divine, and the hallowedness greets our imperfectness, and instead of leaving, love sweeps over to settle your frighten soul. You know why the sacrifice mattered and the true essence of it; it had to be for you to see. You are finally called out of the darkness by light that did more than to illuminate a physical way, but also your spiritual way. Nothing shall be the same now, every fiber of your being screams to you, it is done! You understand now more fully why John 8:32 matters and Romans 8:28 needs to be grasped in order for you to progressively grow... God is shifting things so you can be all you shall be, so stand still and 'know'!  You choose... 

We trust because He knows

We trust because He knows. We do not have to  wreck our brains, to find all the answers to questions that cannot be answered satisfactorily because if you do not see, you do not see. You have to desire above all else, in order to see truth because sometime the answer is trust and obedience is all you get. If you have a faith, a spiritual belief, at some point you must realize in this world of metaphorical landscapes and assessment latent forecast fools us; our intellectual capacity is limited. Yet, God's is not. However, to embrace this way, this disposition one must go to the core of self, and do the uncomfortable, the not feel good thing...surrender through an act of faith. 

Failure to have this awareness, comprehension leads to tumultuous relationships, no matter the circumstance or arena, in all our interactions. Why? The reason we fight, the arguments we are active participants in are all a reflection of internal issues, we have fail to address, we do not want to deal with, and now it has manifest in a form we do not recognize. Don't believe me, then ask yourself why are you struggling with the issue of not being worthy, good enough, born on the wrong side of the track, being in the wrong relationships, or to show what you have gain, trying to prove yourself, meet another expectations, etc. I could go on but the fact of the matter is this, when you are at peace with who you are, the good, the bad, the selfish or the scary, no one can use it against you, ever. You have nothing to hide because you know- I am who I am, and not what I ain't. It not an easy way but the path of not least resistance ultimately grants access to 'peace in the midst of life chaos'. And you choose to live out loud authentically. For you have conducted your own SWAT analysis, and realize everything present is needed for your personal growth and gain. Yet, you cannot overcome or have it healed, if you are not willing to reveal it. 

Sweet fragrance or repelling stench

We all desire to be seen as someone with the ability to do something. The 'go to person' for a particular thing. To sit head and shoulders above the rest in some area, or some particular topic arena is a craving for most of us. It is nothing wrong with this because it causes us to feel good about ourselves, and work hard to cultivate the talent. Helps us to shine, to smile more, and to become generous in our giving. However, if you find you desire more to be seen as the great expert, in whatever it is you do, over being gracious and sharing with others, you missed the purpose. Our gifts, talents, unique skill set, and wisdom is always meant to be shared with others, not held on to as a proverbial carrot to get others to run after us to get it. Until we understand this truth, being able to stand head and shoulder above others will not matter because people are not looking or do not care because instead of having a sweet fragrance that draw, it release a stench that repels.

Getting noticed for something you do well, does not meant it is about, even thought it is for you. It will be never be about me, even if it looks like it will or is. In order to stay the sweet fragrance rather than the stench, you must reconfigure the lens you see your life, and life through. Evolution of you begins when you become less afraid of your truth in front all all people, and not marinating on the negatives in your life, but to live honest out in the open. See, the historical individuals who were positive examples became great not because of their unique skill set and wisdom, but their graciousness - it is not about me attitude... They were a sweet fragrance that drew others to them, not a stench repelling them because they were not selfish. So, if you are wondering why this person who has less talent or equal talent is succeeding in areas you are not granted access. It is either you are still in the journey to become, so look and learn, or you are making it more about you than it is about others. See, this latter thing is a sneaking thing that manifest itself in various disguises, and is always self destructive. 

The most prevalent insidious ones are the times where family members or like family friends are involved. We jump to their rescue because we say I do not want to see them fail, but they are not making any effort what so ever to not fall, matter fact they are doing the opposite. Yet, we continue to toil to keep them free, upright, afloat, and making sure they are getting the things they need. Yet, in the bible Jesus never heal, or perform a miracle where the person(s) did not have to participant in the change. Could He have done so without their participation, absolutely, but it was about the person, not Him. And because it was not about Him the sweet fragrance drew all to Him; God's logic, God's order, and our obedience. Learn it, it works every time. You got to have the faith you speak about, you must act, you mustlive it, then ask yourself sweet fragrance or repelling stench...

The Journey Called Faith

As I begin this journey of accepting, negotiating, and living this call upon my life. I am frighten, as I wonder how I can escape or minimize the pitfalls that reside in this walk of faith. Where the temptation of pleasing others sits in the shadow waiting for a window weakness to enter. Not being able to escape the fear of the many voices in my ear trying to influence directions, and pull me from my path. When the singular voice of God is what started me on the journey but that same voice is being drown out by the chaos surrounding me. It is overwhelming to me as I sit in the cool of the night, soaking in all that has transpired for me, and warm tears appear; I do not know what to do but stand. I close my eyes praying, am I strong enough in my faith, and gracious enough in my demeanor to not offend others who mean well but never stop to ask me any questions, only assume they know what is needed to be imparted. I am lost in the emotions as the many hands and spirits touched me, while some blessed me, others drained me...I continue to remember - We must learn to understand before trying to be understood. I wonder, what joke God was playing with me, and when is the game over; but that is a fantasy. Reality is here with me struggling to breathe in right because I know this too shall pass, the moment will be over, and I will rise like the phoenix, if I do not get lost in this momentary madness trying to engulf me.

In the deepest recesses of my soul, I know God just wants me to be authentic and truthful in my faith, no matter what, and even if no one follows with me. No one believes in the truth I see, and know in my heart. Yet, I cannot stop my mind from running in circles seeking balance because this is all so new to me. Then I decided, I should seek the lessons, and own the teachable moments; live, learn, not dwell because it is the journey that matters not the event...We all should...
See, we should not forget it is never just about us but for us to share what it is within us. To be the patience listener, who is in the moment, to be the apt students who learns and become the teacher, while seeing the unseen and the seen with our soul and eyes. Being flexible enough to embrace another's truth, without losing our deepest spiritual conviction, or uniformly impressing our perspective upon the unsuspecting soul. We only draw when we remember it is not about me. Although It is unnatural and unpopular, it allows the cream to rise to the top and peace to take resident in our lives. We choose...

Was he blind or not from the movie – The Book of Eli.

Today I went to eat with a friend of mind. It was nothing different about the lunch we were chit-chatting, nothing general. But as conversations sometimes go, we hit upon a sensitive subject for me. I was evasive because I was not ready or willing to have the conversation that was taking form. It was not lost on my friend. So, I was pushed, challenged, and questioned on every answer, excuse given for my hesitation to not go public with the call upon my life. I did not think the atmosphere was the right setting for the emotional upheaval that would surely result, and I did not see, I was being understood. But as I drove home, I was a little angry why she did not see, I then realized something, the answer, the advice provided was right, even if I could not see there was comprehension of what I was trying to say; seek to understand before being understood and see life situation change….It did not change what she said for me to do was the truth; funny thing is I already knew this…lol… I now have to apologize, and thank her all at the same time….(I have come a long way because there was time, I would have done neither, and rationalized it to be right, okay, and the best thing for me because I did not want to think the person was smarter than me. Now, I do not care; it helps me on my path, so be it…smiling)…And then it hit me, how many times do we do not pay attention to the right answer in front of us because we believe, we are not understood. The person does not get me. The answer is far too simple to be correct; I am too complex for this. See, it does not matter if they get you; the right answer is the right answer. But we have been so consumed with what we have been rolling around in our head, or devoted to that one objective, without surrendering to the moment and truly absorbing what is being provide; a teachable moment…wink… We fail to realize, just because they have no frame of reference or context from which you come, or totally understand your struggle or dilemma, it does not mean the right answer cannot be given. We all so fond of the old adage – out of the mouth of babes, truth speaks- the babes, children do not understand, have the frame of references to grasp the complexity of the problem, but they still provide the right answer, or give the next logical step. Now, we just have to be humble and wise enough to submit to the truth spoken. I am so grateful for the people in my life who are willing to tell me the truth, to help me to see what I did not see….kind like this… The Book of Eli movie…

There have been families not speaking, husbands/wives not speaking, friends separated as a result of seeing this movie, and dynamics of friendship groups change because of this movie. All because they cannot decide, or agree if he was blind or not. It is amazing what we will get hooked on, and the main issue goes over their heads. Whether he was blind or not does not matter? Asked yourself, what would have changed about the movie, if he was blind? What would have made more sense in the movie, if he had sight? To both of these question, I say, nothing because the movie was about faith, and how we sometime are so focus on the mission, we miss true meaning. We too many time get absorb in the objective because it is the obvious. Yet, it is not about us, but it is for us as the vessel to surrender, not get consume with the logical conclusion we have rolling around in our heads…Elijah got consumed with the big stuff, he almost missed the ‘voice’ …1 Kings 19:11-13 - Then He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD's presence." At that moment, the LORD passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard [it], he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (NIV)…At the end of the movie, like Elijah, Eli was liberated mentally, emotionally, and completed his task at hand with God awesome power; that which he was called to do…wink

Truth reveals as time returns...

A power beyond measure requires a protector without equal. From the movie The Bulletproof Monk

Courageous Leaderships means one must develop the following (from the book The Maxwell Daily Reader by John C. Maxwell)….


1. Convictions that are stronger than my fears.

2. Vision that is clearer than my doubts.

3. Spiritual sensitivity that is louder than popular opinion.

4. Self-esteem that is deeper than self-protection.

5. Appreciation for discipline that is greater than my desire for leisure.

6. Dissatisfaction that is more forceful than the status quo.

7. Poise that is more unshakeable than panic.

8. Risk taking that is stronger than safety seeking.

9. Right actions that are more robust than rationalization.

10. A desire to see potential reached more than to see people appeased.



I read the above list during my morning devotion and within this list I innately see with my heart, the greatest battle we will ever fight is the one with self. Actualizing these serious simple statements, allows me to acquire this revelation - if we are to meet our expectations in life and exceed the potential we know, we must change our attitude toward challenges we encounter in life. Manage our emotions better, not looking at what will make me feel better or what is good for me, but rather what is good for us in the long haul and the entire group. Sharing with others, in the form they understand, the lessons you have learned from your teachable moments, rather than hoarding them to look good or better to them. Only then can we see the possibility and the opportunity lying within the challenge before us, and let the teachable moments teach us; we apply them. We are then able to prioritize and focus on adding value to people, which ultimately adds value to us as individuals.

Adding value to others, believe it or not, is the best investment one could ever make in this life. When we do, we begin to see the light and the call that lead and kept our Saviour inspite of the taunts, the hardship, and the hurt. It is always quite difficult to see the exactness of each of our journey in this life, and how it has just the right mixture of chaos, triumph, peace, and victories to help us to become our true self, and to be the catalyst for others to live their truth with the focus on the bigger picture, or the significance of helping another to act on their dream. You do not always have to be the one, you could be the one before the one, or the platform on which the one stands; both are significant positions that matter. We just have to be willing to accept our position in God's plan for our life. It will not always be what we desire, what others think, or fit into the popular opinion of what we should do, but it the only path that allows you to live authentically....wink

The work, preparation has been done….now we must act…

"The path is unsafe. The place is unknown. The journey is unbelievable. " from the movie Forbidden Kingdom.

I am still moving in my weight lost journey but I guess it is not really about the weight lost, as it is about the lifestyle change to maintain a healthy weight and the journey to get there. As we get older, we have to worker harder to get things to stay put…lol…like we would like. But like with so many things in this journey, I have learned we must live in the now, not in what use to be, or what we wish to be because we discount what is now and worked already done. Realizing this made me think of the how we desire to change, but we are unwilling to take an objective stock of who we are really, where we are, the preparation done, and what we see as negotiables in our life. We all have gifts and talents to be a leader in various arenas – formal and informal. Our circle of influence is far greater than we think, or even can imagine. Yet, we fall short of our and others expectations once we actually get in the real world, put ourselves in the arena, field, turf, etc where we know, we belong, and actualize the many talents and gifts within us. Why is that? Failure or less than stellar results we were expecting, come about because the failure to take a true objective stock of self. See, we have not decided to trade momentary satisfaction, or what is good for the moment, for what is good and satisfactory for the long haul. Without willing to accept and do, we will never meet or exceed the expectations of ourself and/or others. Something we must do at any level, regardless of any formal leadership role if we desire to reach our potential and beyond that is within us. Because we are role-models whether we desire to be or not, and we influence others whether we try to or not. Thus, to meet and exceed our expectations starts with intentional incremental small steps in our decision making. See with in my weight lost journey, I realize I will never be the size I use to be, or look like others my age but I can be comfortable being me and develop me to be my best, and know it is an process not an event. I will have to learn moderation, to let go of things and people that are hindrance to my progression; difficult yes, but not impossible. But more importantly, I can carry the confidence within me, which puts me in precision syncopated rhythms for my life. These rhythms in my life allow me to utilize my gifts and talents to create innovative steps for introductions and exits with smooth transition no matter the environment, the atmosphere, or the circumstance.

We just have to believe what is not, can be if we believe what has been put in our spirit and not be afraid because it is not popular. See the work, the preparation has been done, and now we just need to act on it…. Eze. 37:13;9-10 (NIV)- The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know." … Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.