We shall overcome.....

Luke 3:22…and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased" (NASB)

The statement has been memorialize and become synonymous with Dr. King. As well as one of the lasting legacy of a great snapshot moment of Dr. King’s insightful rhetoric, and analytical conclusion drawn about man’s inner soul. We shall overcome denotes an expectation of something happening, not that is happening right now, or whether it will happen during our time; just that it shall happen. These two things are what makes it difficult for us to keep going; the expectancy. We always desire to see the product of our labor, you know, for it to happen right now. Yet, we forget that others gave, so that we might have but never saw it in the physical form; only in the vision of future in there mind’s eye. However, we cannot seem to wrap our mental and spiritual consciousness around this concept. We must submit, to gain. Realizing expectation requires patience, endurance, determination, and willingness to do today, so that tomorrow’s generation might have; legacy. The irony is this; we cannot endure this race at all, until we are ready to be our authentic selves. Until we are authentic with self, we cannot give God our all today. When we own who God made us to be, and begin walking in him, as we should.We will see what happen with Jesus, for us.  When he accepted his call in public, and became a prophet without honor amongst his peers, his family, elders, and others …he got this - and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven,“You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." …We too shall hear, from the Father – in You I am well-pleased– in our life. When we are willing to step outside of who others think we are, to who we are. See He, the Father, is searching for the heart that is destine, and willing to own its truth, regardless of the trials, the pitfalls, and the pains before them. Willing to cry out, against the normalcy of man’s order because the heart tells you, this is not the way for you but the road never traveled is. For us to overcome, we have to be willing to be the sacrificial lamb that is slain, literally or metaphorically; because it is our difference that makes us great. But no one wants to be that, they just want to overcome, and receive. We shall overcome, when we decide to let go, and submit to the higher calling within ourselves; no matter what it is. For in there lies, our over coming in this life…We shall overcome is absolute for all times…we must choose to apply it…

Who are you mad at?

Who are you mad at? Are you mad at the person you are taking your anger out on? If not, then why don’t you deal with that person, not take it out on someone else. We all are so free to attack everything but the issue we really need to attack. We get so caught up in redirecting our anger; we begin to believe this is the only way to act. Our status quo has taught us, we are not required to deal with the issue at-hand and we can redirect: wrong!. This becomes a problem when we desire to serve the Lord. Why do you ask, because He asked for it all. See, He is looking and desiring for you to give it all. He is looking for the destitute heart, so he can give prosperity; the broken spirit, so he can give wholeness, and the ill-fitted life so you can see His amazing grace fall fresh and know it is for you. Instead, we stay bottleneck with anger, battling the empty punching bag only exhausting ourselves as we build the anger muscle. Wondering why I have to keep fighting the same battles. Anger, like revenge comes back to us exponentially, when we send it out to others. See the problem with anger is we are angry with ourselves, and until we can start with self, we can never let go of anger toward any one else. Unresolved issues of our past, present, color our communication in more ways, than we think, and are the ghosts that hunt our future. As they dictate our response, and the manifestation becomes readily apparent for all to see. But since we live in the cloak and dagger world of fraud-reality, we do not see it.Deal with who you are mad at, not redirect it.

Who are you mad at? Deal with them, do not let it build up and explode on someone else; it never turns out well or productive for no one. Anger according to dictionary anger is nothing but negativity in definition; from its origin, it means to vex, distress, anguish, strangling, torment, affliction, etc. Yet, we are so consumed with our anger and feelings, we cannot see, the amazing grace being sent our way. The unending love waiting in the wings for us to embrace because it is already there, and the redemptive mercy holding us, we do not acknowledge it arms. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying do not get angry but I am saying live, learn, do not dwell, but communicate. It was never meant to be worn as a badge honor because it is not. No matter the outcome, when we deal with it, at least you have one less bag to carry on your already over-laden metaphorical spirit. In the book Tuesday with Morrie by Mitch Albom there is this quote – Education is a lifelong journey whose destination expands as you travel. Because really, if you really do know better, education, it should expand your horizon as well as the lens you see life through. Too bad we are not willing to seek because it requires us to change; what we have done, and are doing in our lives. Who are you mad at? You only have peace when you have all the pieces, and are honest with yourself…You choose!..

Ecc. 7:9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools. (NASB)....It is not easy, but it is worth!!

It is a process

It is a process. I have said it, I have explained it to my students, friends, and co-workers but it got me. As I look back over this year, and all that has happened with me, tears welled up in my eyes from the ah-ha moment, or epiphany from this – God gives you the vision, the dream, shows you your purpose, or the place you will be. Yet, he never tells you the process you will have to go through to get to it. He does not tell you there will be death of a child, parent or loved one, you or a loved one will endure cancer, there will be divorce, you will have hell on your job, your name will be scandalize, etc. Like he didn’t tell Joseph, he would have to go to the pit, the prison, the palace, or that David, you will be hunted, and you will not get into the palace for at least 14 years. Nor did He tell Rahab, she would be known for her house of chaos, before she would be wonderfully converted and blessed, then become the mother of Boaz, grandmother of Obed who was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David; you know the rest of the story. But she had to go through some stuff. No, it is not told to us because God knows we cannot handle it. The irony is, we saw all of this happen to Jesus, as he lived his destiny and walked in the favor of God. Yet, we never care for the process, and unlike Jesus we do not submit to God’s will or way with our heart, soul and mind. Specifically, when it is extremely difficult something we do not like, we blatantly ignore God. We do what we want, and then wonder why things are so hard, why is it taking this long to get what I was promised. Well, every time we refuse the process that gets us to or closer to our promised destiny, we have to go back. We have to deal with the madness that has been created by our disobedience, and arrogance. We say, God knows what is best for us, but act like we know best. Yet, we repeat on more occasions than anyone of us can count Romans 8:28-29, and yet we still resist the order and process of God. See, God does not put negative things in our lives, but he allows it, and he uses it. As we learn to live our purpose, and build our faith understanding of why we were put here on earth. Our life is a testimony to God, and his greatness because it is not, and never has been about us. It is all process, cry if you have to, scream, yell, do what you need to move forward but know God has not forsaken you because in crisis when we submit and obey. When we are in crisis mode, if we let go and let God, regardless of what happens, we are able to see ourselves in light of God’s grace…we make the choice but we never choose the consequence and the ripple effect impact… When will we submit to the process, and believe God does all things in his perfect and prophetic time!

Why didn't you say something??!

Gen. 3:6;11-12- When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate…And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." (NASB)

This is a familiar passage of scripture that we have read. However, I am not going to speak on the issue of the hierarchy for the family according to God. I am taking a different approach to these verses. In the first verse, it said the woman ate it, and then gave it to her husband. Now, the question is this – why didn’t he say something? Instead he just set back, watched her eat the fruit, and then he ate it too. He knew the serpent was wrong, and what God had told him but instead being obedient, he decided to do what the woman said. How many times have we sat back, and watched others do what is wrong by just being silent and going along. However, when the mess hits the fan, we decided to throw our hands up and point the finger, redirecting the blame. Not wanting to owned, we were an accessory to the actions, behavior, or problem but we were. Even though we know better, we do not do better because we are not convinced of what we know. It does not fit in our ideology or desires, thus, we do not do. We are many times like Adam, and sit back letting the madness ensue around us, partaking, and enjoying but when we are called on the carpet, we throw everyone else under the bus. Not only that, we try to place in a backhanded way, the blame on the person who is in the authority position. Like Adam did, when God asked him, who told him he was naked, and if he eaten from the tree? Adam came back with, the woman you gave me, gave me this fruit and I ate. In other words, it is your fault because gave me her, and this is the reason I did this. Really?!! He never answered the question asked. He only gave a redirect of the conversation. He started maneuvering in the analytic bent we use today, and mastered in our verbal exchange. All because they both got caught up in the manipulative mind of the serpent, who confuse them, and refocus their mind. The question is how did he do that? The same way, it is done today; he spoke to our ego, and our desire to be smarter than we are, and only results us being the fool. Now I have two questions for you - who is the serpent in your life that is making you lose focus, redefine the truth you know, and put you in a place of where your nakedness is shown literally and metaphorically, and why are we willing to submit to man’s logic over the one who create man… You make the choice, but know you do not make the consequences….something to think about …wink

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