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.