Is it you won’t do or can’t do?

One of the things I have learned and actually got it, is this recently, there is a great difference in can’t do and won’t do. Although, they result in the same thing, not doing whatever task is at-hand. It does not come from the same place. I have found we many time use these two statements interchangeably, but they are not. See can’t speaks of capacity, or an ability that one does not have. While won’t is an intentional choice where one decides, h/she will not do. It has nothing to do with capability or capacity to do; it does come from a place of self and fear. What do I mean? I won’t do is about not willing to do something, not the inability to do something. Although, it is used to teach us, and grow us, some people us it to abuse us or not help one another. But whatever reason, it all comes back to this, one is put place of uncomfortable, it is unfamiliar, or the uncharted waters. We do it so much, we lose out on our blessings because we have gotten so at home with not stretching ourselves, and not doing. We see it all the time. It is most notable in sports when the coach pushes the players to go where they have never been mentally, psychologically, and physically; there is resistance. The players have to trust the coach is right, and go for it. Trainers do the same thing. Some would call it blind faith because they do not see, cannot conceive being there, but they are encouraged into moving beyond what they know, by using what they know to get there….smiling…

We must stop letting the fear of doing, or the never gone there before stop us. Otherwise we only do this - Isaiah 29:13 - Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote...NASB...See, we all have the tendency to give priority to man’s order, standards, and direction, and miss out on what is really there. Although, we say the right words, and explain the godly way, when it comes to doing, we back down. When what the Lord is looking for from us as Christian is this - Job 23:12 - I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. NASB…This is necessary to have in your heart because it becomes a living entity that grows as you grow, expand the lens you see through as you relinquish more to God, and become obedient. And when we are lost, confused, or fearful, it pricks our heart to keep us moving. So that we can say this verse with conviction, authentic understanding, and implementable skills that changes not only our lives but all connected to us – 1 Cor. 2:9 -… "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."...So, the question you must answer today is this – is it you won’t do, or can’t...you decides because you will abide.

Why do I have to go thru this?!

Why do I have to go thru this?! J. Moss has these statements in his song ‘I’m not Perfect’- ‘When you asked for more, I gave you less, and Lord I am sorry…I am not perfect but I am getting close, the more that I know you…When you needed me, I sometime did not come running’…This would explain why we go through, what we do. It is not an accident or coincident, we go through because we are not obedient. We decide not to do, not because we can’t do, but we do not want to do. It is too difficult, it puts us outside of our comfort zone, it is unfamiliar, or it is unpopular. How soon do we forget, God does not abide in man’s standards. His standard is different, and He measures on a different scale. Yet, the more we know Him, God, the more we should stop running away when He calls, regardless of where it takes us. We should begin to give more, not less when we have nothing left to give because it not we are use to giving, and it is not that we do not have it to give; we do. We just have not been challenged, or asked to give it. We see this all the time with coaches and their players, they push them because they know they can give more, and this is the reason God does the same. This is why we have to go through half the madness, we go through. If we give the more when asked, come when we are called, then half of what we go through would disappear.
The disappearance of half our problems, wouldn’t that be great. This would happen because God just want the best for us, and from us. We choose, we decide, therefore, we abide. It is time to change, it is time to move. When we know better, we really should do better, but we have to be convinced of what we know in order for us to do better. We see this illustrated in this story about the three Hebrew boys in Daniel….Daniel 3:16 -18 - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”(NIV)…When they were asked for more from God, they gave, and they were blessed. They did not go to the, I can't mode because they did not want to do.
See we go thru, so others will know, God is the Great ‘I AM’. It is never for naught, or without rhyme or reason. We say, we are not given the spirit of fear, yet we run away out of fear, thus, we have to go thru..smiling…We create what we hate…When learn to stop running away. Giving the more that is asked of us, and not the less that is easy for us. Releasing into that fold of grace that attitude of can’t, when it is really, I don’t want to do. We will find less going thru for us…we choose…

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the hallowed holidays for me, more than Christmas or Easter. Why? Because it is the time we all take a pause in the continuum of time and pause to be thankful. Not get overwhelmed by negativity or get all consumed with what we lack. It represents the turning point in the time of each year, where we open the doors of our heart, and extend our expressions of gratitude to those that are close, and to strangers. We begin to give life and breathe into being the concept of my brother’s keeper. The consciousness of self is mitigated and the formulation of it is not about me appears. We move to the embodiment of the ‘grace factor’. The unmerited favor of God, where we were chosen, and we submit to be use as a vehicle to demonstrate the importance of Thanksgiving. The time where we express our thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation to God, family and friends for all, we have been blessed with whether it is material possessions, relationships, struggles, or trials for they all teach and bless. Our shared experiences allow us to look at the same landscapes, but new lens are formed to produce a different perspective that guides our steps spiritually and physically.

I am thankful for…
The trials for they refined me
The unconditional love because it cushioned my fall
The friends because they are the family that chose me
The present of mind to forgive and live
The willingness to live in my authenticity
The heart that sees hurts unspoken
The challenges put in my path today because they prepare me for tomorrow
The faith to believe God’s promise when man’s says, you don't or it could not be true
The power to choose
The family I was given because it made me into the me I am
The gift of grace that covers our lives
The unmitigated presence of favor upon all our lives in various measures
The consciousness of mind to see what absolutes are, and what relative statements are, and the willingness to accept the difference
The openness to learning from all people, and all situations as it becomes a seamless unconsciousness
A God who does not ever stop believing in me, even when I and others do!
The men and women who taught me, and are teaching me, more about me all in their unique way
The under-shepherd that says, I am fallible and we are learning together
The men and women of God who say – I don’t want to, but by God I must do

Be encourage...

In the first Chicken soup for the Soul book, it talks about the story of a junior high class was required to write something encouraging to each other. At one of their funeral, it was discovered every one of them have kept the note close. Some had it in their wedding album, in their top drawer, desk drawer, wallet, etc. This one note of encouragement spoke through the years to encourage the students from adolescent to adulthood. It is amazing to me how one word or a short note has such a powerful impact on an individual life. We just do not know. So, know today when nothing else is working for you, and you want to stop, give up, runaway from life, the money train does not seem to come your way, haters seem to be the only people reporting out on you, etc. love and reassurance is there. There is someone praying for you, loving you, looking up to you, believing in you, and seeing you are the best at what you do. You have a well of infinite unconditional love pouring out upon your life. God sends tangible touchable to you, each and every day. When you think no one will hear you, know he does. He is never too busy, it never too late, or inopportune time for you to reach Him, and He sees the best in you when you and everyone else only sees the worst. Cause God never formed anything that does not have something good about. He is not like man, He does want to know, and is genuinely concern for your well being, always. There is always a ram in the bush for you, if you look. He has a person smiling, reaching out to you in places you would expect as well as not expect. He does not participate in the ‘blame/game’, no matter what you do, no matter how many times you do it. He patiently waits, and loving smiles saying –my child, it is true, I am always here. And when you need an human touch, one is provided with a god-presence reassuring hug metaphorically and literally, who will be there as the angel s/she were ordained to be, as long as you need; no more, no less.

Be encouraged, knowing things happen how they happened so you could become the best you, not so that you can be destroyed but built up to withstand the winds of the future you are facing, and accomplish the task at hand for you. So, the next time you are wondering - How do I know he is there? How you know the wind is there? You feel it, and you feel Him! You see the results of His hand in your life! How do you know there is thunder, you hear it! You hear Him in the quiet whispers, slips of the tongue that changes your day, and the unexpected I love you spoken to you.

Be encouraged because you are beautiful just as you are. There is no one like you, you are an original model not to be duplicated or replicated. Your time and life is too precious to waste it!...Choose wisely, you are worth it….smiling

The unwanted things, makes the wanted possible

Luke 12:3 - Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. (NASB)

As I come to terms with a decision I made this summer that is changing my life, I struggle, I wonder, and the weight is something too much with me. Yet, I stand knowing I do not have the spirit of fear but of grace. Thus, I walk in humility, smile in watered tears, and speak with a confidence that comes from the divinity with me.

God is moving in this land, our lives, our hearts, and our churches as He seeks to heal us. Yet, what is not revealed cannot be healed in us. We, I am not excluding myself, walk around in a clouded façade that is not our own truth. We do not see our own authenticities anymore because confusion and lies are the order of the day. But yet, we wonder why things are not working right, why everything is falling apart around us, and implosions occurring in our lives. No one is looking on the inside, and at self. WE spend too much time thinking and not reflective think of our selfish ways. Surrounding our self with the thought of - s/he should have presented, acted, or done it that way. But when, is it going to be the person receiving turn to take some responsibility, on how they accept what is presented to them; we choose, how we respond, not how it is delivered. I am not exempting anyone, I am not pointing a finger at anyone but I am including everyone in the transactions, and pointing fingers at all. Everyone is responsible; not just one party. We all need to understand, the things that we do not want, are the very things that make the wanted things possible. You have to break the eggs, beat the butter and sugar, mixed up the dry ingredients, etc to get the tasty delicious cake, we so desire. If that does not do it for you, then what about how many want the leaner and healthier body, but most do not want to change their lifestyle and add exercise. Yeah, there is some unwanted before we get the wanted in this life. What is revealed, is what is healed.

Revealing our truth frees us, and accepting that unwanted is part of the process that grants peace, and allows us to not be disgruntled. It provides hope, help and healing for those listening, and for those revealing, it grants the ability to live in their promise and purpose. See our test is our testimony, and our struggle is our sanctification by fire. While hurt people, hurt people, we would also do well to know what we put out, we get back, tenfold. So, as we are all becoming painfully aware of the unmasking of our leaders, our idols, our mess, resulting in us acting like the bottom has fallen out of our lives; I ask you, to ask your self – why am I destroyed over the fallible being fallible? Why do I feel the need to defend, when the truth will outrun a lie, every time? Why do I feel compel to hide who I am? Have we forgotten no one is perfect? Problem lies within all of us, the one who sat on the pedestal, and the one who put them there to worship. The one who is complicit with the covering, and the one who is covering it up. No one is exempt. Suffering in silent because you are afraid of what others might think, or because of the fear of being ostracized, only serves to imprison us in a selective amnesia and repeated self destruction cycle. Who wants that?
Know when we deny our humanity; it destroys our divinity the opportunity to live. Don’t believe me, remember Jesus, he never denies his humanity even to the cross, and it is what made his divinity so hallowed. So the next time you reach the crossroads of an extreme interruption in your life that creates an imbalance. Know this is an opportunity to grow, not crash and burn or to become self-destructive. You choose, but choose wisely. We are not promised a second chance at anything, and God will always give you enough time to do what you are called to do, if we let go and be free….the unwanted things, makes the wanted things possible, and every battle is not your to fight..Be still know I am GOD! sometimes, that is what we really need to do...

God’s word is Psalm 119:105 - our word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. NASB)

If had my life do over again, I would....

I received this email today and it talked about passing the purple hats. However, after reading it, I thought - why do we have to be confronted with our morality before we begin to appreciate the life we have, the people in our life, or the time we are granted. Yet, we must lose, or almost lose to gain perspective of things. Then, it only stands for us to understand why God's order includes giving to receive, and sacrifice is greater than obedience. It all makes sense to me now, and I get it. How about you?...

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIFE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying of cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it, and really see it ... . live it and never give it back.STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us because believe it or not there are more people loving you, looking up to you, and believing in you than you ever realize. So, let go and be free to love, and stop dwelling on what was never meant to be more than a waiting station, and not baggage we make it..We choose, we decide...we become the change, we wish to see in others by letting our actions speak for us: they always speak the loudest, the honestly, and the leave the mark...wink..

God desires for us...

Eph. 1:9-10: He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him. (NASB)

Eph. 3:20-21 - Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (NASB)

God desires for us, is that he wishes us well, and always desire for us the things we keep deep in ours heart that is god-right for us; even if it breaks us…It is part of the process… We many times wonder if today is the day one of them will become apparent in our reality in a tangible way. And it is found for us in the place of remembrance, but it is a place you have not ever been except in your mind’s eye and/or dreams world visitation. Yet, the day has come, you have arrived, and time has permitted you to be there, and it is now. Know there are no coincident in life, and all things are here to teach you, to show you, and to allow you space to be you. No one really seek to hurt all they hurt, but our actions always leave unexpected casualties in our destructive behavior it seems. Yet, there are nuggets of blessing lying in what seems to be a waste land, and it acts as a catalyst that changes someone life as well as ourselves. We just have to seek the lesson; always, not just complain. I heard the other night this definition for forgiveness, and thought, it would do me well to remember this - forgiveness is realizing it could not have happen any other way - therefore, you can stop wondering woulda, shoulda, coulda, if I had, they had, etc, and be free to move forward with our lives...wink...

Know the time is approaching, quickly, for us to make some critical choices in our life.WE are at the threshold of embarking on living beyond what we see, if we desire, beyond the truth that kept us in the mindset of deny, deny, deny, wait, wait, wait, and then panic. Now, we have the opportunity to be authentic with ourself, in a way we have never before. As this come to us, we have to become more judicious with your giving, and 'about me' is no longer the baseline of anything we do anymore, even in a subliminal way. As you help another, you are helping you, do not miss the opportunity standing before you. It shall be found in places of unexpected, in people you tried to avoid, and the choices, stance, you rather not take. It is there you shall find your authenticities speaking the loudest, the boldest, and most resolutely. Do not hesitate in fear, fear is only meant to let you know, this is a new frontier go with God focus; nothing more.

Learn the lessons you sometime thought you knew, but you really didn't. So, try this on as a new way growth for you, as you explain, comprehend; as you clarify, grasp; as you illuminate to others, you clear your perspective lens, and as you challenge others to do, you begin doing the hard things you have hesitated on, while no longer going where the angels dared not tread...smiling. Stand and know, He is God, He has not forgotten, and His promise upon your life shall come to pass for you, if you embrace the lessons He has for you, and let go of the mess that is so easily enticing you into the madness, you say, you want out of. See we choose, more than we think with our words, actions, focus, interactions, and choices of friends; we impact more than we intend, and longer than we know, so act with a godly responsibly and accountability..smiling...

Know this, God shall fill the empty spaces in our lives with love, if we are open to his ways, inspite of the turmoil, we are so many time, fixate on. Just remember, his ways is out of order with man - you have to give, to receive; to be a blessing to others, you must be broken, and you must do, when it hurts because it is the god-right to do...wink.. Then, you will know what peace is in the midst of the storm is really is…

Just keep on believing, and never give up or think it is too late. If you are breathing, then it is not too late because it is only too late if you decide it is...You decide, it is your choice, and it is you...smiling