Shut Up......

Remember when your momma would say, "don't say shut up it's not nice. Say be quiet." Me as a child I  couldn't wait to find somebody to tell shut up. See what my momma didn't understand was shut up had power and emphasis. Now that I'm grown and my mind has been renewed, shut up has become a weapon. I found myself saying stuff like, "God is speaking to me but i can't hear because you won't shut up. Death and life lie in the power of the tongue and If you are not speaking life into me shut the hell up. Devil get ye behind me and shut the hell up." See there are so many distractions around us that we can't hear God and we stop expecting his voice. Jesus said to expect more because He will always have something to say to us about new situations we are facing. So whatever it is in your life that's hindering you from His voice, tell them to SHUT THE HELL UP!

Selfish Praise

One day this man asked me , "why do you praise God? I said to him, "if you only knew what "I" been through. My hurt, My pain, My stress, My lose, My mistakes, My troubles you would understand why. When I was sick God was there. When I was tired God was there. When I ran away from Him, God stayed by my side. So you see I have to praise God because He has never left me. Not my mother, not my father, not my family but God. He promised to never me or forsake me and He has kept that promise. No one can replace my God." Your relationship with God has to be personal. Selfish. When your life is over on this earth, it will be you standing there at those gates. Don't allow nothing or no one to take away your God......

Suited Up.....

You ever feel attacked, beat up. Not only physically but mentally and emotionally. One day I felt like I was hit with a boulder. Nothing was going my way. My car was broken into, I lost my job, I lost my mom, I began to feel sharp pains in my body like some body took shots at me with a chopper. I just knew I was defeated. God spoke to me and said, "nothing can stop you." Confused on the meaning I continued to lay in my s**t. God spoke to me again and said, "get up and continue towards the fire." With a little hesitation, I got up drained from this day i did what I was told. I started to drive with no destination. I ended up at the library. I sat down at the computer and applied for a job I wasn't qualified for and had no chance of getting. I went home, opened the mail box and there was a coupon for free window repair. I laughed in disbelief. I got a call , it was the job to bring me in for an interview. They hired me. I asked God, "what are you trying to prove." He said, "son the devil was attacking you today but you were suited up with my armour. If you weren't suited you would've died but you trusted me." See the level of battle you face is an indication of the blessings you stand to receive. If you are being attacked keep your armour ready. The greater the blessings, the greater the battle. The devil attacks those who are standing on the edge of a blessing. Ephesians 6:11-12 says,"put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the attacks of the devil." So be suited up in the full armour of God so you can stand against anything. Strap on your boots, buckle up that belt of truth, with that chestplate of rightousness, the helmet of salvation and grab that shield of faith so you stand in the face of enemies strongest attack.

Prayer:
Father God, I am asking you to strengthen me to be patient and to endure my trials. In doing this, I know tomorrow will be a better day. Lord continue provide your armour so I can withstand any attack on me and mines. Once again Lord, thank for your mercy, strength and power; for your mercy endure forever. Thanking you for your blessings and all you have done. In Jesus name, Amen.

Faith Rehab......

There was a man who was an addict. He battled with drug addiction for many years. There were many attempts to get sober and many failures. One day God spoke to him, "Faith is the substance." That was all the man heard. He heard this while he was in rehab the first time. Once he got out of rehab he went back to using drugs. Everyday he would ask God to speak to him and for many years he heard nothing. This caused more pressure on the man. One day he was so frustrated with God, he overdosed and passed out on the floor. His family found him an hour later and called emergency. The doctor told the family if they would have got there 10 minutes later, the man would have died. The family placed him in rehab. As the man layed in the the facility, he asked God, "why didn't you let me die?" God said, "The journey isn't over. Get up and bathe." The man was confused, but he ate. God said, "Today is the first day of your faith recovery, eat." The man ate. God said, " I waited until you were at your lowest to speak so you can hear me. Leave the yesterdays behind and be great. I fed you because you were weak, i bathed you because you weren't clean, i didn't allow you to die because i placed greatness on your life, you are meant to be king of kings and lord of lords. For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Today you will stand up and walk into your destiny." One-day-at-a-time you can rehab your faith. The bible says,"Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me." So no matter what you have done or been through God will restore you to who you are and not who or where you were. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. you can't change the things that happened yesterday, and tomorrow is still an unknown. All you have is today that you can actually do anything about. One day at a time.

Move into the Blessings....

There was a faithful man that lived in the same home, in the same neighborhood, married to the same woman, worked the same job, did the same things for over 25 years. For the last 10 of those 25 years, the man started to feel a shift in his everyday. He didn't understand it so he continued to do his everyday. A week later that same home he had lived in for years caught fire. Not bad damage but the man said, "it's fine, I have fired insurance".  The home was fixed. A week later the man lost that job and when his wife found out, she left him for the man she had been seeing behind his back for years. The man says, "that's OK I'm financially stable and as long as she's happy I'm fine." One day he ask God why did you allow these things to happen when he had been faithful. God said, "when I told you to move, you stayed still. I allowed your home catch fire as a warning and you still didn't move. I removed your wife and job because they were distracting you from what I have in store for you. See I have blessings that are waiting for you but I can’t bring treasure in until the distractions are removed."  We have to learn to listen to God and move when He tells you to move. He will go the extra mile to make you hear his voice. There is Grace for the faithful.

Daddy's Love....

This will be my first father's day. Before becoming a father, i prayed to my heavenly father to fix my broken heart from the absence of my earthly father that i may be a great father to my child. It's funny because for 28 years i had anger towards my father and at the moment of birth of my daughter, the anger for a man i never knew was gone. A fathers love for his child is special. My job as a man changed. I am now a protector, a provider, and a teacher. God made man in his image, his likeness. The bible says, "for it gives your father great happiness to give you the kingdom." A father is giving and generous, but he will not give to the point of destruction and hindrance. Most men give things to show his love, but i have learned that giving does not replace time and attention. Be your child's hero. Kids are easily satisfied. So don't over think things. Be there. Be goofy. Be caring. You be DADDY forever. Brotha's stop letting your baby mama be an excuse to be an absent father. It's selfish to have a fatherless child. Daddy's love is something the mother can't give. Something that shapes and moods a child. Fellas stop being baby daddy's and more fathers. Less about the mother's and more about the child. Happy father's day to ALL men even the absent men. 

Trust the Detour

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone. She was blind since birth so she blamed God. She had multiple surgeries to "fix" what God had done to her and nothing worked. One day she talked to God. She expressed her hatred for Him.  The next day a pair of eyes were donated to her. She could finally see. But when she looked at her world, she had no family. She found out that as a child her father murdered her mother and brothers as she was in the same room. She was devastated. God spoke to her and said, "I didn't give you eyes because if you saw what your earthly father had done, it would have blinded you from the purpose I have prepared for you." We lean so much on ourselves, we forget about the reason we live. Following God's lead without knowing where he's sending you. Waiting for God's timing without knowing when it will come. Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide. Trusting God's purpose without understanding the circumstances. So many times when we don't understand Gods plan, we depend on self. Sometimes God doesn't allow us to see the whole plan because there are road blocks in the plan that will knock us off the course of our purpose. God provides the neccassary detour that is not always the best route. Trust God no matter the circumstances.

Had a Song on My Heart and....God Spoke to Me.

I was singing. "You don't know my story, all the things I've been through. You can't feel my pain, or what i had to go to through get here. You'll never understand my praise, don't try to figure it out. Because my worship, my worship is fareal." I said to God, "God i have lost my mother, I've lost my job, i have lost myself to other people. i can't take it anymore.i wanted to be angry, i wanted to be depressed but all i could think is, "Lord i love , lord i love you. My worship is fareal." God spoke to me and said, "Son you didn't lose your mother, you gained an angel in my army. I took that job because i have a purpose for you and you wouldn't listen when i told you it's time to move.i took those relationships because you couldn't hear me because you were busy listening to them.i am preparing you for greatness. Walk into your destiny." All i said was, "thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus my worship is fareal." Sometimes God will take away things, so you can see the blessings waiting on you.So give God praise even when it seems dark. Joy comes in the morning.

Compounding Defects.....

You know i have come to the conclusion of why things don't work out the way we want them to. Man.... Our foundations are built on bullsh** now days. We try to build foundations on money which is paper thin, popularity which is meaningless and selfishness. A lot of us have replaced God with our own foundations. My late great mamma, i have to give her a lot of credit in raising two hard headed boys. As much BS that we got into, she had us in church every, i mean every Sunday, Tuesday, Saturday, Vacation Bible School, Church Summer Camp, Usher Board, Youth Choir, everything was church based. These things took priority over any other interest that we had. Now that i'm older i realize, all my interest had cracks in the foundation. As much as i disliked it, her decisions as a single parent were building a foundation based off GOD. I had a conversation with my brother the other day and he said, "bro, all this s*ht i'm going through right now i think is because i stopped going to church and paying my tithes." He is right. When your foundation shifts, everything on top of it can come falling down. When building a house the foundation is the most important part of your home. If the foundation is not right, the more you build on top, the worse it will get. Just think about our schools took GOD out of the foundation, our families have taken God out of the foundation and even some of the churches have taken God out of their foundations. The LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic." God's solid foundation stands firm with no cracks or defects, build on it!

Prayer:
Lord, I ask You to build Your godly structure in my life, family, and those around me built upon love, faith and hope, and to tear down ungodly structures built on selfishness, pride, and selfish ambition. I repent for myself and my ancestors for building ungodly structures based on our agenda, pride, honor, fame, self-centeredness, greed, rebellion, and worship of self instead of worshiping the One True God. In Jesus Name, Amen....

Just Another Praise Break.....

Here I am. I'm still standing. After all I've been through, I've survived. Every storm, every rocky road. I'm Alive. There were times when i almost gave up and didn't think i would make it. I have cried, been angry, questioned and said Lord it's too much but God you have been with me the whole way. He says, "son i got you." By his grace and mercy I'm still standing. I have been through the pain, the trials, the tribulations and it has given me a testimony. I have learned that the Devil tempts you so you can trip and fall, but God challenges you, pushes you, test you to make you open your eyes and heart to his purpose for you. So Lord if you decide never to do anything else for me, I'm ok because you have done exceedingly and abundantly more than i could of hoped for. I can say that i'm stronger than yesterday because of your grace and patience. So here i am imperfect but perfectly made. Lord i thank you, i praise your name in the bad because i know tomorrow i'm good.

Can You Spare Some Change.....

Change! So many of us are scared of change. We would rather stay in our box, with our people, doing it our way. But change is a good thing, right? I think there is some misconception about change. Change doesn't mean you have be a different person. It doesn't mean you have to give up the things you like. And it definitely doesn't happen over night. I scroll down my timeline on social media and always see people talking about moving. "I'm moving to Florida to get away from the drama." Naw boo boo that's not how it works. if your life is shit here, it will be shit everywhere. Changing locations, does not change your situation. There has to be a decision in you to make a change to better your situation. I'll give an example of my fear of change. I know i need a better relationship with God, i know i want a better relationship with God. Every time i feel myself making the move and feeling closer to God, i run away. Why? Because i'm scared that it's gonna change me. Make me vulnerable. make me soft. This older lady at work told me, "boy, get over yourself. God made you with a purpose from the beginning. So you are not changing from who you are to who God wants you to be, you changed from who God made you to be to who you wanted to be." Well damn. What can i say? The bible says, “Before I created you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart; I made you a prophet to the nations.” God had a plan for me before i even knew me. So the image i have for myself is fake, false. Like a white gangsta rapper from the suburbs with gold teeth and corn rows. So every body should be open for change, looking to be better. We should all be standing on 38th street with a sign asking God could he spare some change.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I look up to you in this time of change. Allow me to have the courage to change my life for the better. Allow all my burdens to be given to you as I know that You will see me through. Teach me to love with an open heart and open spirit. Take time for me today to help with all the trials you have set out for me and allow me the strength and energy to follow you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Shake It Off....

So many of us walk around everyday holding on to things from our past, our yesterday's, that stop the progression of our future because we refuse to forgive. Holding a grudge. I am a product of a absent father. I believed he was responsible for every struggle, every down fall, anything bad that happened in my life he got the blame. I just didn't understand how he didn't want to be in your child's life. So i built a wall of anger, confusion, resentment towards a man that i never met. I remember playing a basketball game when i was in the 7th grade, the kid that was guarding me had a dad in the crowd cheering, coaching, talking to him. i tried to bust his ass because the amount of anger i had towards my dad that never was there. That should be me, i was thinking. I was a lot better than his kid, so i pushed him, bumped him, cussed at him because i was angry, jealous. All my emotions came out and my attitude showed. We lost the game even though I killed this kid. But in my emotion i lost sight of my team, those supporting me. When i was about 21 years of age, my mom called and told me that my dad was sick. I told her i didn't care about what he had going on. She said, "son that anger in your heart is blocking you from being great. God won't bless evil." It took me 8 more years to finally sit down and forgive my dad not being there when i had my first child. Not for him, but so i could be the best father i could be. Still i have never talked to my father but the anger, the pain is behind me. Don't let anything build in. Whoever they are and whatever they did is not worth letting the history stop your destiny. TD Jakes says,"You can't take in air and not exhale, everything that you take in, you have to let out. If you stop breathing you die." When you hold things in it changes your attitude, it keeps you from being great. The bible says, “to whom much is given, much will be required.” There will be people that make you, mad piss the F off, but to be great it is a requirement to forgive. So shake it off and stop looking at what's behind you because you lose focus on what is ahead of you.

Suicide Letter......

Dear Self,

I give up. I have been trying so hard and never seem to reach the goals i have set for you. I have failed you. I am not satisfied with the results that i have given you. I am angry. As i sit here and try to figure this life out, i become stressed. You deserve better. The depression i have caused you is unfair. I write plans for the future but the present is keeping you from moving forward. I prayed this morning for better days but God didn't answer. So i wrote this to tell you i was done. But when i woke with every intention to leave this letter, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. The pain was gone. I heard a voice say, "It is done." I could feel God. I could hear God. I asked God why he allowed these things to happen, He said, "Son, you have forgotten me. You didn't trust me. But i never left you." You ever feel like you are at the end of the rope? Like no one understands and you just can't get it right. Some of us go through things that feel like death. Just remember, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. A lot of times we beat ourselves up because we are not where we wannna be. Like we stuck with no direction. We try everything to figure out the issue, the problem. But we tend to forget God in the situation. The bible says, "Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had received the sentence of death, but that was to keep us from trusting in and depending on ourselves instead of on God Who raises the dead." God puts us through some real storms and test, sometimes at the brink of death, so he can raise us from the dead. My pastor, my frat Brother Eli Johnson said, "Someone had to die, so you could live." I will like to add my own spin on that. YOU HAD TO DIE, SO YOU COULD LIVE..... Some of us have to commit self suicide, so we can be raised from the dead by GOD. (PS: Not a real suicide letter LBVS)

Prayer:
Lord, into your hands I commit my life. For it is your business, not mine. You know every struggle of this life. Thank You for caring for me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me with gratitude, thanks giving and your will govern all the decisions i make. Amen

You Can Have Whatever You Like.....

The law of attraction is the idea that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results. God wants us to have the good life. Jesus says, "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance." Everybody has heard this, "If you believe it, you can achieve it." The law of attraction is basically that. Positive thoughts can bring positive results. If you believe that you will be happy, you will be happy. Joy and depression can not reside in the same space. You can't be happy with your life when you are depressed about your failures. Steve Harvey said, "If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand." In the bible there is a story in Genesis of Joseph. From a young age, Joseph believed God had destined him for greatness. In dreams, God told Joseph that he would rise to do great things. Joseph believed, even though he went through many failures, he stood on God's promise and God fulfilled his promise. Some people are, show me and i'll believe type of people, but people with faith feel, believe and it will be shown to you. If you want better, declare it! Believe it. Act on it and it will be given. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. A lot of times we let our dreams disappear because we don't ask, believe and receive. God said we can have whatever we like, if we just believe and it will be done.

Down By Banks of The Hanky Panky.....

When i was young, in summer camp, we use to play this game called, "Down By the Banks." Every body knows this childhood game, if not played it at least heard of it. "Down by the banks of the hanky panky. Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky." This random thought came to me while listening to my daughter and niece play the game. Both of which were inconsistent with the words, making up words and both wanting to play the game their own way. I said, "self!" Myself said, "huh?" "This is one confused ass frog!" Inconsistency. Inconsistent behavior causes misunderstandings and uncertainty, in yourself and in other people. When in a relationship, consistent behavior is key to a successful relationship. I was talking with my married friends the other day and found that inconsistent behavior was causing issues in their marriage. In the beginning they both had an end goal. The husband set his eyes on the goal, nothing was stopping him from reaching the goal. The wife (awww poor lil tink tink), still wants the goal but does not have tunnel vision like her husband. He's grinding and doesn't give her the attention that he use to. When she complains, he is in a state of confusion. So now they both are confused, taking a stand on their wants. Inconsistent. No one is wrong but both are showing inconsistencies. The husband's change in actions and the wife's change in emotions. Consistency is the ability to stay grounded, to live our principles, and purpose. In life we find ourselves chasing things with no consistency.NO purpose. The bible says, "Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever." So if we strive to be more like Jesus, consistency is a good start. Consistent parent, consistent spouse, consistent worker, consistent prayer and an all around consistent person. Our commitment must be to make our beliefs, our prayers, and our actions match. No more hanky panky. Prayer: Lord, I ask for your strength and power to be consistent everyday and live out of a heart full of gratitude. Amen

Good Friday!

I know you don't praise God, i know this.... But today i'm gonna get you high today. Cause it's Good Friday, you wouldn't have no job, you wouldn't have ish to do. The bible says, "while we were living in sin, Jesus died for us sinners.Therefore, now that we are saved by the blood of Christ Jesus, we shall be delivered from the wrath of GOD." Listen, that has to give you a praise! God loved us so much, his son died! If you ask for forgiveness, despite of all that you have done wrong, you will be saved.

Play The Game Boy.....

How to dress, how to talk, how to act..... These are the things "they" tell you to do to be a success in this work force. it doesn't matter if you're uncomfortable, test your dignity, your pride.... this is the blueprint to be a BOSS. Cool, Get money! under that suit, after you get home, you feel free...right? Never realizing that you are losing a piece of you each day. But it's rules to this ish. My momma told me and taught me, to have manners, to speak correct English but never conform to something you are not. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, which is good and acceptable and perfect." So i will rather pride myself on the quality of my mind, the continuous knowledge obtained were i'm placed, than to conform to something God never intended for me to be. So remember when you playing that GAME, pray about it because the choices we make aren't always the direction God has planned for you and it may not be the blessing that you think.

Focused Man! It is For Me......

I scroll down my timeline everyday and see people worrying about what other people are worrying about. Talking about they haters, he say she say, drama, etc. Judging other folks when they live in a glass house on the corner of a busy street. i remember when my mom use to call me to do something for her as a kid and i would get frustrated because i'm clearly not an only child or the only person that lives in the house. Why the hell you always calling me? "Feed the dog." I'm thinking in my head, I didn't even want this mutt, a third labrador, a third german shepherd and a third whatever else. One day i decided to ask my mom, "why you always make me do stuff and not my brother?" after she says excuse me, what did you say and me dumb enough to repeat myself, she explained "what does that have to do with you? You just do what i asked you to do because i'm your mother." That sticks with me when i think of the calling God has on our lives. We focus on everything that goes on around us. What everybody else is or isn't doing and we find ourselves lost in other folks mess. The bible says, "Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." So focus on what God has told you to do and not the next person. As God's command may not be easy but the blessing's that come with it are just for you.....

I May Not Be Where I Wanna Be.......

Man.... I use to be a mess. Not a care in the world. My moms tried to do everything in her to make sure i had the opportunities that most that grow up the way we did never had. She had me in youth choir, drum lessons, travel basketball, rec basketball, school basketball and church basketball......She even put me in private school for high school. I mean a single parent of two boys and working full time, i look back on it and all i can say is WOW! Anyway here i am this ungrateful little boy with no understanding of her sacrifices, I get put out the private school for selling drugs, put off the basketball team for my attitude, coming to choir smelling like weed. just a complete mess. It didn't get much better as i got older. Same book different chapter. SMH. One day I said enough is enough but i was afraid that all i had done in my life, there is no way i can go to Jesus like this. I went to church and the sermon spoke directly to me. Then pastor said, "if you were perfect, what would you need GOD for?" When Jesus was being crucified, there were two criminals that were next to him. One of the criminals mocked Jesus saying, "If you are the Christ, save us." The other criminal screamed at him saying " Do you not fear God, we are about to die. Jesus, remember me when you are in paradise" And Jesus said, "Today no matter your sins, you will be with me." At the end of day, you can change no matter where and what you have been. True faith can over power a multitude of sins. So as I sit here searching for perfection but continuing to make mistakes, I know God has redirected my path. So I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be.

Friends....How Many of Us have Them!

Mark Twain says, “It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart: the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.” How many of us have had friends that really wasn't our friends but didn't realize they wasn't our friends until it was too late??? There are people that we surround ourselves with that mess with you because your fun, you know how to have a good time, you buy the drinks...But when the party days are over...Reality sets in. three kids, a full time job, in school, struggling and those "friends" are no where to be found. These are the friends that still doing the same Sh*t y'all was doing back in the day. No genuine concern about your life. Stay away! Then we have those leaches. Those people that grab a hold of you and won't let go until they have taking every thing they can from you. I was listening to TD Jakes and he said, "When you are forever feeding people that can't feed you. You become drained because there is no one feeding back into you." What i took from that, is that we all need someone who will invest in you like you invest in them. When i'm down you down, my sorrow is your sorrow, my pain is your pain, if i'm rich you rich and we gonna eat. 1 Samuel 18: 1-5 tells a story of David and Jonathan's friendship. The bible says they loved each other, they were homies, boys, BFF's. In the time of war, Jonathan stripped his clothes, his armor, his sword and gave it to David, so his friend would be successful. So take a look at who you surround yourself with. Friends are important to your growth.....How many of us have them?

Devil Get Up Off Me....

Have you ever noticed that anything that gives you peace...gives you joy...makes you feel good...there is a bump in the road, a road block, a little regret, doubt? Every time you do something out of the kindness of your heart something happens to make your mind wonder....Why! The Devil is a tricky little S**T. He attempts to steal everything that GOD has given you by straight doubt, which takes away from your joy and your peace.The Art of War by Sun Tzu says, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will lose every battle.” We have to know who the devil is and how he works because we are in a constant battle with the enemy. One thing i have learned about the Devil, he knows when you weak,he pressures us so we doubt what we believe. But as true believers, God works on our behalf to bring answers that meet our needs. That's the word of GOD. When Moses led the Israelites from Egypt, the people had doubt. They felt they were stuck between a rock and a hard place. But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today." So when the Devil tries you, when he tries to trick you, let him know GOD got me. So Devil Get up off me.....

Storm Chasing....

Have you ever been in a place in your life were you just wait for the next disaster to happen? The next earthquake, the next tornado, the next katrina, the next typhoon. I know i have. When life starts to get the best of you. When every thing seems to hit you all at once. Bills, Bills, Bills. What's next? That's the mind set that the devil wants you to be. A state of weakness. Always chasing the next storm! Oh Lawd, not again! Jesus take the wheel! Jesus be a fence! All the above..."Give your worries to the Lord, and he will care for you!" That is the promise GOD made. So if you find yourself in storm after storm, that's because you have allowed the devil to control your thoughts and make you a Storm chaser. he will prey on your worries, your fears, your insecurities, "yes you look fat in them jeans." "No you will never, No you can't, No you won't." The devil is a lie! if you expect good things to happen in your life, if you lean on God's promise and trust in God's purpose for you..... you become a dream chaser, a goal reacher, a family provider, a storm escaper..... Give all your worries to Him and the storms will clear.

Think Happy Thoughts....

Does anyone remember Peter Pan, The boy who could fly? If not, let me give you a quick summary of who he was. Peter Pan was a boy who ran away from home to Neverland so he would not have to grow up. His squad was the Lost Boys. He kicked it with this lil fairy Tinker Bell. One day he went to a house with a nursery full of kids to retrieve his shadow. There he met some kids and took them back to Neverland. But the kids could not fly. Peter says, "Just think happy thoughts." When the kids did that they could fly.... That's my focus, Thinking happy thoughts. It's crazy how our thoughts can change our mood. Negative thoughts give us; attitudes, the stank face, the neck roll, the finger wage, the weave flip, etc. And honestly if that's you all the damn time, people will eventually back away because who wants to hear negative S**T all the time? Negative people are the most unhappy, depressed, insecure individuals around. Think about this, our thoughts control our mouth, controls our emotions, controls our health, and body language. So they control YOU! The bible says, Ephesians 4: 31 "Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never think evil. 32 Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ." When you think happy thoughts your mind stays focused. It helps get off the ground. Just think happy thoughts.

Stuck In The Mud.....

One night i had a dream. I walked out my apartment door into the wilderness. Nothing but trees, high grass, and weeds for miles. As i made my way through, i suddenly couldn't move. I looked down and i was stuck in the mud. I began to sink. sinking deeper and deeper into the mud. i stuck my hand out and grabbed a branch that wasn't there before. I woke up before i could pull myself out. For days i tried to figure out what this meant. what was the message? At the time, i was going through so many things in my life. I had been ducking and dodging, bobbing and weaving through for so long and i finally realized that i was stuck! Depressed about my situations. That's when i began to sink deeper into pain, stress, burden. I talked about the dream and the problems with one of my OG's and he said, "who ever said that going through was a bad thing? God never said it would be easy, so yes we will go through problems, situations, hard times but it is when we stop trusting God to give us the strength to overcome is when we sink." Man.... All i could say is "JESUS." We get this idea, this vision in our mind that just because we roll with GOD it's suppose to be easy. Nah, bro.... God so loved the world, He gave his only son...His only son! So what makes us think it's gonna be all peaches and cream for us? Isiah 43:2 says, "When you have troubles, I am with you. When you cross rivers, you will not be hurt. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not hurt you." God's word is telling us, there will be rough times, hard days, times of need...BUT! There's always a but...If you keep moving forward. Fighting the stress, the depression, the difficulties, the reality of this world, just know.... He will never leave you or forsake you. So when you find yourself stuck in the mud, trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will never leave your side.

Sunny Days....Everybody Loves Them...

Sunny days... Everybody Loves them... Life is Good! God has blessed me. Praise the Lord as he has provided all my needs. Ain't no Jesus, like my Jesus, because my Jesus always gives me what i need. These are the types of things i hear people say all the time. When you ask a simple question like, "how are you?" People respond, "I'm blessed." Forgive me if i LOL. Not because of your joy, but my mind wonders when ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE in your life, will you have the same responses? Sometimes we tend to praise the blessings that God has given us but forget the pain... The test! Will you trust in the Lord with all your heart when trouble is staring you in the face? When you're sitting in the tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G. and the baby in the baby carriage comes before the love and marriage? When you lose your job or someone you love? Will you trust God? Every body knows the story of Job in the bible. God blessed Job. He loved Job and Job loved God. God allowed the Devil to test Job. Job was robbed, live stock burnt and children died. But in all he still did not blame God for what had happen because he trusted God's plan. Trust.... So storms will come, this we know for sure... Tell me can you stand the rain?

Burnin' a Hole in My Pocket....

I remember when i was young, my grand mother would say every time she gave me some money, "Don't let that money burn a hole in your pocket." i didn't fully understand then and to be honest it's a concept that i struggle with now. But right when i got that money, i ran straight to the candy store; 25 pieces of penny candy, a quarter bag of grippos, a quarter juice and played Street Fighter for a quarter. Spent that dollar like it was nothing...Not realizing that now, i don't have anything for the next day. It's funny how we don't realize the significant's of the sayings and quotes our parents say. They were actually teaching and you didn't even know it. What's the saying, "a hard head makes a soft ass." When i got to college, at the beginning of each semester you get that "REFUND CHECK." Man right when i got that money, i ran straight to the mall; New Jay's, Pelle-Sean Jean-Phat Farm, alcohol, weed, you name it i got it. Spent thousands of REFUND money like it was nothing....Not realizing that now (and for the next 30 years), i will be paying all that back with 17% interest rate which has dropped my credit score before i even had credit, loan debt more then what i make a year and now I'm facing the struggle that plague majority of African American Males. Material things. Material things, that have no value, no equity, no profit. I will teach my kids about the value of possession, i will teach my children the importance of credit, and thou they will make their own mistakes, i will be confident in them knowing what it means when they hear, "Don't let that money burn a hole in your pocket."

Somebody's Watching You!

There comes a time in every boys life, when he has to put down the childish things and step up to be the man that GOD pre-destined him to be. Let's define man.... Man. Webster defines a man as a man or boy who shows the qualities (such as strength and courage) that men are traditionally supposed to have. OK.. True. But what about his mentality, his drive, his spirit, and how he handles failure? When I was a little kid, I remember my older brother would push me down all the time. I would cry and run to my mother. My mom would say "stop all that damn crying, ain't nothing wrong with you." That was her way of making me tough, making me a man. Now i think back on it, as a child you are defined by the things your parents teach you. What you see them do, what you hear them say, how they handle situations. Now that i am a father, i have changed to be an influence. Through all the mistakes, failures and disappoints, i define a man as a man that shows the qualities in his actions (such as understanding, encouragement, self worth and faith) that men are NOT traditionally supposed to have. Remember father's, somebody's watching you, so give them a good image. Proverbs 22:6 - "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."