Know your own strength…

This was initially supposed to be a small Facebook status, but the more I typed…the more came out, so I decided to share this with everyone.

Probably the realest status I’ve ever posted. For four years now the months of February and March has given me a different set of emotional issues. It was February when my dad died and march when wife died. As I set in traffic on the highway listening to this gospel playlist…a song that was sang at Ronya’s funeral came on…I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LISTEN TO IT AGAIN WITHOUT JUST BREAKING DOWN…but today no tears…no breakdown…just a smile.

Psalms 30:5….weeping may endureth the night but joy cometh in the morning.

My night might have been a little longer than others…but my Sun did shine. So with all this being said family…press through your storm. Don’t give up. It’s all in God’s perfect plan and divine timing. Don’t be scared of a little rain. All plants need water to grow. Understand this…if you are not dead…it made you stronger. You must recognize and utilize the strength that you now have. There
is not much worse in the entire world than not knowing your own strength.

Be blessed all and have a tremendous day. This might be the only time someone hears this today…hey you!….yeah you…I LOVE YOU.

Addition by Subtraction…

Like usual folks when the mood hits me to write I’m generally at some different type of emotional state. I’ve said it countless times…I’m most definitely an emotional being. Unless its academically influenced its extremely difficult for me in this season of my life to just have at it and write…not sure where down the line that happened…but I figure while this season is in session im gonna roll with it. For me the past few days have been somewhat emotionally draining…but that’s my life and I’ve learned how to adjust to these days…AND NO I’m not bipolar or mentally unstable…I have all my marbles and my elevator goes all the way up to the top floor…but these are the life and times of  David Dew Sr.

Chance…one thing is for certain and another is definite…absolutely nothing happens by chance and there is a rhyme, reason and purpose for everything under the sun.
Funny how purpose reveals itself…I was walking through the store tonight and I started to think about my life…when I was hit with the motivation I assumed that this would be another reflection post…in a way it is but slightly shifted a bit…Addition by Subtraction, I thought I was done with this series but…

Life…is full of unexpected twist and turns and its our job to navigate through these obstacles with grace and diligence. I believe I’m gonna be transparency for a sec or so. Somebody once told me…”Dew you didn’t ask to to through what you’ve been through.” That’s a true statement. For the vast majority of us…we never ask for what we go through…but that event…situation…person or whatever it may be has purpose in your life. Even if we don’t initially see it…or understand why…that purpose was on purpose to serve its purpose.  Think about that for a second and I will come back to it.

Transparent…I remember after Ronya died there was a point in time where I had to focus…looking back now I really don’t believe it was focus…I was in shock. There were certain things I needed to do that was critical for the survival of my family. It was pertinent that I have tunnel vision. If I hadn’t only God knows where we would’ve been if I didn’t. Then it happened…the calm…the idleness after the storm. I was forced to address issues. Reality at times can be a harsh teacher. I can remember the week after she passed, we had a routine…I would leave church, walk in the parking lot, call her at the hospital and ask what she wanted to eat…every single Sunday I did that. So now service is over…I walk to the lot and pull out my phone to call her…and then it hit me…she’s gone. WOW…what do you do…I’m literally standing in the middle of the lot with a phone in my hand not knowing my next move…IN LIFE. Reality bites! Humans are creatures of habit…my routine is broken…what do I do? My wife was an enormous part of my life. Time…what’s gonna occupy that time now? Where do I go? How do you continue? Can I even get there?

Purpose…everything has purpose. There was a point in time I didn’t wanna be here. I just wanted die. No I wasn’t suicidal…but I just wanted to be gone. I went from this vibrant person…full of personality…to not caring. I managed my department at work. I stopped brushing my hair…I would wear a uniform to work didn’t matter if it was clean or dirty…I would wear these old beat to Hell Timberland boots to work with no shoestrings. I went to work late…it was a chore to get out of bed. When I got to work I would just go straight to my office and shut the door. I can remember taking lunch for 2-3 hours…I could care less. If it wasn’t for my three children I probably would have melted into obscurity. It was them that I now lived for…I no longer lived for myself…true story. If it wasn’t for them…I don’t think I would be here writing this blog. My children served a purpose in my life. They were the catalyst that rekindled my flame.

Obstacles…life is filled with them. Adversity comes via many means. What does one do when the obstacle comes…does one fight or flee? Is it what’s for me will be for me? Move…stay still…move while standing still? When these “barrier” moments arrive one presses. You see that obstacle has purpose. The problem is we focus so hard on the obstacle to we actually trip right over it. The focus should not be the obstacle…but what comes after we overcome the barrier. Watch me now…

Addition by subtraction…I had to go through that purpose in my life to serve my purpose. Ronya was a purpose…she completed her work on this earth. When I STOPPED focusing on what I no longer had (subtraction) God provided me with a series of  beautiful people in my life (addition). He gave me a second lease on life. I went through the purpose to become a better man…to become a better husband…to become a better father…to walk in my destiny. So when I marry this time…I won’t be tripped by the same obstacles.

Where am I going with this…FAITH. Before one can truly overcome an obstacle, one first must believe. One must have FAITH. See the thing is…I could not prosper because my focus was on my situation…not my solution. My solution resided in the Lord. Once I placed my FAITH in Him I was able to overcome….Isaiah 53: 4-5… 4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our otransgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The Prescription is the Answer

I guess this is becoming a habit…this on again and off again relationship that I have with blogging.  I promise I so try to be consistent with my posting, but it seems like I ran into that same issue again…time just always seem to just have its way with me.  Time likes to treat me like a red-headed stepchild.  It never gives me what I want and none of what I need.  I dunno…maybe it is I and I just have to do better.

I have so much to tell you and so much has happened to me, but like usual I won’t bore you with all the minuscule, inconsequential details of my life…I will save that for another time.  Hmmm…but I will tell you this…God over the course of the last week…has really been moving and revealing in my life.  Kinda like that “what’s for me will be for me” thing I talk about often.  Yep…He has been granting me a level of revelation that is crazy.  Let me get on with this because ya’ll know how I can get…start one way…get off subject and all of a sudden I’m talking about the price of tea in China and the Capri Sun sale I caught at Wally World in Franklin, Ohio.

I don’t want this to be too terribly long, but I’m just gonna write and see where this thing takes us.  Oooh before I forget…I have some new readers (yaaaaay me!) so I will preface this by saying, I don’t mute, edit or censor anything.  I believe in raw emotions…it’s a blog and full of my dysfunctional thoughts…so you will get misspellings…horrible grammar (at times)…and all the stuff that our English teachers used to complain about ….sooooooo whew now that’s out of the way….

I have been going through this transformation over the course of a week now.  It started last Monday I guess…I decided to go through self-enlightening period that I refer to as D.E.W….or David/Dew’s Enlightening Walk.  What I have decided to go is confess aloud either to a friend or via my facebook page or twitter (social networks UGH!) my enlightening epiphanic moments…some might be comical in nature, but they are all sincere.  I dunno…its just hard for me to be serious all the time…oooh there I go again…anywho back on task.

See this is the first week in quite sometime I had attended church more that once in a given week.  I actually went to a much needed revival for three days and went visiting a church…well not visiting… this is probably my home away from my home church.  I was blown away by some powerful messages preached and the Word that was deposited in my spirit and spoken over my life.  One thing I know is that God is definitely forreal and He is the truth.  God wiped me down this past week at church and He exposed me to myself.  I was spiritually raped with love…He exposed me to myself even though I see myself everyday.  Hold on…did you get that…He exposed me to myself…see we don’t realize that needs to happen for us to receive promotion.  We stand naked in front of ourselves everyday and look in the mirror and all we see is a carbon copy of something that is truly not real…smoke and mirrors…a reality filled with perceptions.  Okay…maybe that is just me. I’m just talking…don’t mind me.

Do you know that God has predestined us for greatness and we don’t even know it?  We stay stuck in the situations that we can physically see with our eyes opposed to grabbing a hold on to His Word.  I heard somewhere before, I think it was a movie…that, “the greatest trick the devil has ever pulled is convincing us that he doesn’t exist”.  This statement is so true.  How many times have you been caught in a rut far beyond be stagnant and you just accept that “it is what it is”?  That is the trick…He wants you to think that you have to settle, that you can’t rise above whatever the stumblingblock is.  We are predestined for greatness.  Before the DNA strains were carefully crafted and woven to construct you…God had ALREADY mapped out a plan for you.  Ephesians 1:11…in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worked all things after the counsel of his own will.  So why we are running around trying to figure it out…God has already mapped it out…we in turn must be obedient to His word.

We must learn that the blessing come not via what we see…it comes via what we hear and the promise He has given us.  That’s why we need to quit walking around with out heads down.  We need to quit moving in our own will.  If He said He is going to do it…He will.  His timing is perfect when our timing is flawed.  He has pre-prescription on our lives.  Hold on…back up for a moment…a prescription is defined as: a direction, usually written, by the physician to the pharmacist for the preparation and use of a medicine or remedy.  Lets see here…walk with me for a minute.  Typically when we are ill we go to the doctor and depending on the severity of the problem he will write a prescription to help heal you from your ailment.  Look at this definition of prescription…lemme translate this for you.  A direction (a Word from God), usually written (The Bible), by THE physician (God in all His Glory) to THE pharmacist (Jesus, the Son) for the preparation and use of medicine (mercy, grace and favor) or remedy (promotion from your ailment).  See God will perfect and heal any matters that concern the heart.  He will be a dose of Divine medicine when the enemy attacks.  Don’t worry about the outcome, because the cure is thru the Pharmacist via the Physician.  Nobody comes to the Father, but thru the Son.  So we must first know and have a relationship with Jesus first.  The blessings will come (maybe that one is for another day).

I’m gonna have to stop on that one, because this post went way away from what I attended…but what I do know is that when God moves…He moves…just like that.  It is up to us to be obedient and stay rooted in His promise.  God bless you!

Consistently…Inconsistent

God operates exactly how He wants to.  It is not for us to truly understand His rhyme or reason.  I can remember when I first started to read the Bible and it would say, “thus said the Lord”…I understood that was the end all to be all.  Point blank He is the Alpha and Omega.  Now I guess I’m going to put the disclaimer out there now…this will be like a mini sermon so I’m just talking about…what I’m talking about.

It’s funny how we as people claim we know our purpose in life…the vision that God has set for us…but when it is time for that vision to become reality…we flee from what we know.  Why is it that when it is all good we wanna thank God initially…then when it goes takes a turn for what it seems to be “the worst” we are stuck with our face to the ground calling on Him.  It’s because we as people have learned the custom of consistently being inconsistent.  We need to pray for Him through the good and the bad…magnify and glorify His name. 

Its funny how we allow people to take us out of our element.  It is so easy for us as people to “lose our religion” when we get around certain folks.  We allow others to dictate the calling that God has over our lives.  God has called us to minister and evangelize…but the moment we get to work…school…practice…anywhere outside our “Godly enviroment”…we tend to filter what we say.  We start to conform to others.  Why is it that we won’t curse in certain places…but the moment we get somewhere seculiar its a wrap.  Because it is excepted practice I guess.  Ever wondered why we get what we got…its because we do what we done.  Ever wondered why or why not certain things happen to us?  Many times it is because we filter ourselves from our true purpose around people…SO GOD FILTERS HIS BLESSINGS!  God is not a coffee pot filter.  The thing is we filter so much around people it’s crazy.  Revelation 3:15-16 states…”15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”  We can’t straddle the fence people.  The word spue is so deep.  Spue means to vomit, expel or eject from one’s mouth.  Do you want God to expel or eject you from His mouth?  To vomit out…when I think of vommiting…I can only imagine spitting out something that didn’t agree with my stomach and having it dwell with the nastiest of things…i.e. Hell!

It’s funny how we have to watch what we say around certain people.  You don’t wanna offend people with your Godly views…or don’t wanna seem like a “bible thumper”.  Mark 8:38 states…Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  I’m telling you…if you don’t believe that…whew!

It’s funny how we want others to forgive us…but we wont truly forgive them when it is our term…and we wonder why we get certain things.  It’s because you have filtered your forgiveness, so God had filtered His blessings.  Forgiveness is a way of life.  I’m not telling you to be stupid or foolish by placing yourself in the same positions…but I’m telling you to forgive.  Everyone makes mistakes…this is evident because we are all carnal beings…but that doesn’t mean we have to accept carnal ways.

All I’m simply saying is that when we think we are consistent…are we really?  Why is it so hard to do the right thing around the wrong people?  We concentrate so much on being accepted here on earth then our acceptance into Heaven.  Everything here is only temporary.  It’s materialistic…it will come and go…just like this flesh…it will pass.  But our spirit is forever.  Will we allow our spirit to suffer because we want our flesh to be accepted?

All Change Ain’t Bad….

It was a couple of weeks ago and I got a text message from a friend of mine.  Now I’m not an overly huge fan on signatures on text messages or ringtones…at least for people of age.  I’m a huge believer in when you become a certain age you put certain things away.  That is just my opinion…so ya’ll don’t beat me up for that (ha ha).  I know many of you still have one or the other…maybe even both.  Anywho…this morning I woke up with much on my mind…but for the first time in quite some time it was a welcomed thought process.  I woke up with completion, focus and change on my heart.  I’m going through my daily process of sending my “Dewposits” (inspirational text messages) out and I just happen to pause and take a look in the mirror…while taking this short pause this text message signature flashed before my eyes like a blinking neon sign…”ALL CHANGE AIN’T BAD!”  This is the signature under their text messages.

I instantly thought, “Wow!  I understand now.”  All change is not bad.  We as people focus on many of the negative aspects of change…especially when we can’t initially see the benefits of the transition that is occurring.  We get so consumed on what it used to be and how we want it to be.  I remember reading that, “predictability brings forth security.”  However, this is true…but many times we as people become so “predictable” and “comfortable” that we become stagnant and resistant to change.  So when that vessel of change docks at our port we are reluctant to board it.  We would rather continue to drive in our car. 

One thing I am learning is that when change starts to occur, God has you exactly where He wants you…it is up to you to go where He needs you to be.  Some time ago I asked solicited a few of my friends to help me write and blog.  I feel that this blog will be life-changing to those that it reaches.  I also asked another to write a single paragraph for me…now I had completely different intentions for this paragraph.  I get so much inspiration from my people…more than they will ever know.  It’s so awesome how God reveals His purpose at he correct time!  As I continue to ponder this change thing…I’m hit with this paragraph that was sent to me…

“The evolution of man….for some, the first thing that comes to mind is the gorilla theory. No, not that (we all know we’re God-made). I’m talking about the process that one must go through to become a ‘man’ or ‘woman’, the trials and tribulations that mold you, the spiritual journey that everyone has to go through, the ups and downs of life….evolution. What determines your outcome? Why do some people evolve different than others? Why do some seem to fail while others prevail? I think the answer is very simple…Faith, obedience, and strength.”

Now how does this all fit together.  Walk with me for a few and I will tie all this together.  In life we all have this “ideal” plan of how we will do things.  I know all of us get asked the questions, “where will you be in (a certain number of years?”  Even though this in a sense seems like a practical question.  Is it really?  I beg to differ…God will give us glimpses of our future..but it is up to us to take the correct paths and make the correct choices that aligns with His vision for us.  Often times…we as people don’t initially follow this plan of action that God has outlined for us.  For various reasons we all tend to stray at some point in our lives.  This is part of the spiritual evolution process.  1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV) states..¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  We all must go through trials and tribulations in order to grow. Trials and tribulations are a by-product of testimony.  They test your faith and obedience.  Without these we are like an untrained prize-fighter going to fight for a championship.  These trials and tribulations help us to endure the continuous cycle of life.  In life there is no reset button, we can’t do things over…but we can choose to move forward. Often people believe just because one is “of age” that they are an adult.  This is not true…until we truly put away our childish ways…we will still continue to receive childish benefits.  It is when we decide to move forward as an adult and deal with things past a childish level then we will receive that which is promised to us. 

Life is all about faith, obedience and decisions.  As our faith grows and we become obedient to what God wants us to do…then we will make better decisions.  We have to get past our view on change.  All change ain’t bad.  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)  states…¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!”  Know that God orders the steps of a righteous person.  We need to diligently seek His face.  He has his hands on us and will see us through change…but we must be obedient.  Our problem is that we think we are consistent…yet we are consistently inconsistent in the matters of God. 

Why do others evolve at a different rate than others…why do some people seem to fail when others prevail?  Change…not everyone is receptive to change.  All change ain’t bad.

Your Life…Your Process

I absolutely hurt right now.  I’m definitely in pain…I’m frustrated and sometimes I don’t know whether I’m going or coming…coming or going!  Even through all of this dysfunction I realize this…God will see me through.  He has a supreme power that supercedes anything I can or will experience.  Let me ask you this…have you ever felt this way?  Just wanna scream…but even though your scream from the top of your lungs…nobody hears your cries…nobody hears the noise you make.  Sort of like the question, “if nobody is in the forest and a tree falls…does it make a noise?”  Have you ever had a feeling that was empty…and nothing seems to be able to fill your cup?  Know that you are not alone, because I have or currently am experiencing some of those same emotions. 

During these emotional times…you are exactly where your are supposed to be.  In a holding pattern.  You are experiencing your “process”.  Each of us has a “process” that we must endure to eventually be where we need to be.  We are in a “holding pattern”…a place that teaches us patience.  One thing about patience…it is definitely virtuous in nature…but has the ability to whip you like no other.  I heard someone say…when you are being patient that is when things are the hardest.  It seems as if every other thing that could happen…happens…and what supposed to happen doesn’t.  Wow…that is deep. 

Your process is not like the next person’s at all.  Like I’ve said before…we are all uniquely created by Our Father…no two of us are the same…and no process is.  Now things maybe similar…but never the same.  Your process was determined long before you were a twinkle in your parent’s eyes.  During your process…I understand that things will make you weary…situations will attempt to stunt your growth…instances make you feel like throwing in the towel.  Nobody said it would be easy…but it is written in Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  So I tell you to steadfast and be a rock while enduring your process.  One thing I know is that life is a marathon…not  a sprint.  All marathoner’s must train hundreds upon hundreds of miles to run a 26.2 mile race.  Life is no different.

I’m here to tell you…trust your process…regardless of what it looks like…don’t let go.  Know that God will keep you…and through your obedience your return will be greater than ever imagined.  One of my favorite songs play in the background plays as I write this to you…see the lyrics below:

I almost let go. I felt like I just couldn’t take life anymore. My problems had me bound Depression weighed me down. But God held me close, so I wouldn’t let go. God’s mercy kept me, so I wouldn’t let go. I almost gave up. I was right at the edge of a breakthrough but couldn’t see it The devil really had me; but Jesus came and grabbed me, And He held me close, So I wouldn’t let go. God’s mercy kept me, so I wouldn’t let go. So I’m here today because God kept me. I’m alive today, only because of His grace. Oh, He Kept me, God Kept me, He kept me, So I wouldn’t let go. Lead I almost Let go. I felt like I just couldn’t take life any more, My problems had me bound, depression weighed me down, God held me close So I wouldn’t let go. God’s mercy kept me, so I wouldn’t let go. So I’m here today because God kept me. I’m alive today, only because of His grace. Oh, He Kept me, God Kept me, He kept me, So I wouldn’t let go

Nothing Happens by Chance

One thing is definitely for sure…nothing happens in this world by chance. Each moment is carefully orchestrated by God to bring forth the outcome that He desires.  It’s funny how your life can progressing down a path in such a matter that you are not giving many instances a second thought.  Then it happens…”change.”  What do you do when that transition period is staring you directly in your face?  Do you fight or flee?  Do you resist or respond?  Moments like this often define our lives.  How we conduct ourselves dictates the road we travel. 

As I type this blog I can’t help but to admire how God uses “nouns” in our lives effectively…you know what a “noun” is…we learned that waaaaaaay back in elementary school.  A “noun” is a person, place or thing.  I’m reflecting on a recent conversation I had with a person that I really didn’t know.  As we engaged in this dialogue it was apparent early off that God placed the two of us together purposely.  Our entire conversation centered around God…God’s vision and purpose for us.  The trials and tribulations of life…the importance of slotting situations accordingly to their calling (seasons, reasons and lifetimes).  Now this person lived in Alabama and I live in Ohio…but it was a common denominator…one single topic stood out above all the rest…a comment that changed my path…”I’ve tried things my way..they never worked.  But as I submitted to His will, every answer that I was seeking was right there.  SO MANY GIFTS AND TALENTS THAT I WAS ON THE VERGE OF WASTING…..BUT HE WASN’T HAVING IT.”  That is one powerful statement.  In a nutshell…untapped potential. 

Ask yourself this…are you reaching your full potential?  Chances are if you are living in your flesh you haven’t even scratched the surface of the full range of talents that God has predestined for you.  There is nothing worse than to walk away from a situation knowing that their was more than you could have done.  Understand this…God gives us vision and purpose.  It is up to us to execute the plan.  All too often we as people never reach our full potential because we are an excuse filled society.  Many times we allow our voices to be muted in fear of being wrong…or being viewed differently…opposed to stepping directly into what God has prepared for us.  We each are equipped with unique talents designed to uplift the Kingdom of God…instead of realizing that…we allow our jealousy…envy and greed to fuel us.

The key to understand that the choices or lack thereof we make in are lives are no way casual.  Each choice has purpose behind them and has destiny attached to them.  Reaching your full potential is critical.  You have people who you don’t even now waiting for you to walk into the steps that God has ordained for only you.  So stop worrying that Johnny can sing…or Suzy can write…focus on what your purpose is. 

Ever wonder why you can’t make a sound decision…or why it seems like you just can’t complete tasks…or everything is unfullfilling…it’s because you’re walking a path that was not designed for you.  It’s uncomfortable.  It is your job to decide what your legacy will be with the choices you make.  Avoid wandering  through life misaligned and uninformed by not reaching your full potential.  At the end of the day it’s your life and you must walk in it…. 

It’s crazy how a simply crossing of the paths by two complete stranger made me realize that I’m not tapping into my full potential…what will it be for you?

Submission is key….

It’s absolutely crazy how most of my inspiration comes via heartache and pain.  When I am at my most creative points…is literally when I am probably at my darkest hours.  Through the pain and rain my mind always seems to float to some other stratusphere.  I’m not sure if I have ever thought about that until now.

Lately I have been mettling my way through some physical issues…some issues of the heart…some mental and emotional issues as well.  Simply put…as Christians will say…”I’ve been goin through!”  As hard as all this has been I’ve known the entire time that God has my back and regardless of what my flesh screams…God’s eternal promise of promise, prosperity, protection…mercy and grace reigns.  Through each attack and plot the enemy has premeditated I know the promise of God can NEVER come back void….

I guess its time for me to get to the purpose of this post…because I was about to take-off on just that alone.  I felt that perculator bubbling.  It was about to go down (hahaha).  Okay…in the midst of me and my “stuff” this afternoon I was reading a book called “Dare to Be a Man”  by David Evans…this is an awesome book.  It is for men and women and I would highly recommend reading this piece of literature.  I feel it would forever change your outlook on the “purpose of a man”.

Submission is the topic I want to write about.  Just this very word…when folks hear it…instant negatives come to mind…weak…dominate…advantage…demeaning…sexist…etc.  I don’t think that people truly grasp this term of submission from a biblical perspective and how it correctly coorelates to our everyday lives.  In a biblical sense…submission means to “bring yourself under”.  It doesn’t mean to be dominated by…or taken advantage of.  There is a clear difference between submisson and and other two I named.  Submission is ordained by God…the others are man created terms and actions used to supress and oppress others.  It is imperative that we as people understand the difference of the three and the true intention of submission to one and other on this Earth.

Submission is a duel cooperative of two people aligned with the same vision that incorporates love, honesty and trust.  This mutual submission is prevelant when we submit ourselves to one and other…especially from a matrimonal perspective.  Ephesians 5:21 says..Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Notice that it says ONE ANOTHER…not merely woman to man. 

If we as people ever truly learn to submit as a whole families…friendships…marriages…the church will be in much better shape.  Submission is intended for unity not seperation.  For builing and uplifting…not to demolish and destroy. 

So my challange to you is to submit…submit in the places where God has called you to.  I challange you to look at the places where God has given you authority and ask yourself, “Am I operating in God’s will?”  I challenge you to do something different.  When you submit to those around you…you are not in no way lessening who or what you are…you are simply cultivating and sowing a seed of prosperity in your life when you are following God’s purpose.  Remember that “productive submission is possible for you when you posses a positive self-image.

 

You can’t see what I see…

A few weeks back I found myself with some extra time on my hands.  I had arrived at school kinda early so I decided to grab something to eat.  Now I’m not a breakfast dude for breakfast…but I love breakfast for dinner (that’s bass ackwards I know).  As I’m sitting down in the café area trying to figure out my next move and I hear this tapping sound.  It is getting closer and closer….so I spin around to see what it is.  As I turn around I see a lady that is blind and is using her white cane to maneuver around.  This is not an unusual situation…but for some reason I decide to watch her.  She is going on about her business with no help at all…actually doing a great job negotiating all the turns on the way to her destination. 

I’m so intrigued by her…actually captivated…I can’t take my eyes off her.  I’m amazed how relatively easy she is doing it…all the while why she is walking she has the most pleasant look on her face.  My wheels are churning thinking about how she just did all of that.  Eventually, I figure out what I’m going to eat…so my focus is back to food now.  As I’m eating I witness another blind lady sitting down and doing exactly what I am.  Again, like the previous lady…she had no issues doing what she needs to do…AND she has this same pleasant look on her face.  At this point I am tripping.  I just seen two different blind women that needed NO help with their daily routine and they have this blissful look on their face.

It made me look at this completely different.  Walk with me for a second.  Why is it that these women that can’t physically see one thing have not issues with accomplishing their goals…but us that have the capabilities of our sight fall short?  It hit me…2 Corinthians 5:7 states…For we walk by faith, not by sight.  You see these women didn’t have the luxury of seeing what’s around them.  They had to WALK by FAITH…and not by sight.  Their complete trust was on what they already knew.  They both knew exactly how many paces it was to their destination…they knew exactly how it sounds.  They had complete trust in how they were rooted.

I quickly was able to shift gears and understand that is many of our problems today…I’m saying folks that can physically SEE.  We place too much stock into what we are able to physically SEE…not where we have been rooted.  We choose not to use our “walking cane” (the bible) and focus on each circumstance and situation.  I believe if we ever trust that God will supply every need…then we will be able to completely see what’s truly right in front of us.  We constantly hit these bring walls because we are so consumed with what a situation looks like…opposed to what it will be.  See these women didn’t allow a disability be a probability…they allowed their disability enhance what they already knew. 

What are trials and tribulations…they are experiences that are designed to disable you momentarily to where God needs you to be.  What am I saying people…don’t be blinded by what you don’t nor can’t see…be reminded by what He has done and will do….Go through you disability with a smile on your face…I know these ladies did!

Much is Required….

Okay…alright already… I know that I use incorrect grammar and punctuation when I write.  Lately I have received an influx of new readers (thank you and I really appreciate you) and some of you have sent me messages about my horrible use of grammar and mechanics…some of it is intentional some not…but I write based on how I feel and however it comes out…that is what you get, so it is filled with raw emotion and terrible punctuation.  If I go back and revise, I believe that you will miss out on the essence of what I am attempting to convey. Now since that is out of the way…..

 …..for some crazy reason I have been getting clobbered over top of my head about this subject of change.  I know I have posted several times on this topic…but every time I attempt to proceed in my process, I quickly revert right back to change. 

 As I looked at the definition of change…there was one constant theme…to alter…to transform…to switch…change is all of the things above…BUT when I think of change I think of  making either an essential difference often amounting to a loss of original identity or a substitution of one phase to another.  See when we change old things are passed away…we become a new creature.  Those situations I used to deal with…I tend to shy away from….at least that is how change is supposed to work.

 When I look at myself I would always want to change…but I was only willing to put in temporary work.  Temporary work only gives us shallow results.  That’s why I always seemed to be caught in this spiral of mediocrity.  I would lose 30 pounds…pick 35 back up.  I would be on fire for God and then back to being lukewarm again.  There was no consistency in my everyday walk.  Well maybe I guess the consistency was being inconsistent.  Go figure…the man with all the answers for everyone didn’t have the answers for himself.  Wow!

 As I am beginning to climb out of my bucket of inconsistency filled with heartache and sorrow…mixed with grief and despair…I am quickly realizing that all this pain was preparation for my destiny.  How can I be the man that I was called to be when I needed to spring clean all year?  I can’t! I hear people say all the time…I am who I am…hell…I’m guilty of say that myself…yeah we are who we are…but that is a cop out.  We are what God says we are.  You can’t add or take away from that.  I am starting to understand the scripture more and more each day that “for whom much is given…much is required.”  What gave me the audacity to think that I was going to go through life unscathed?  Yeah right…if I am going to be great…I must endure the highest of mountains and lowest of valleys.  Like I said previously…change has not changed…until changed has changed.  That means change is repetitious in nature.  It is in constant evolution mode.  Why do you think we encounter four seasons each year…because the earth is in constant rotation. 

 I can’t call it people…maybe it’s just me…who knows…I’m dysfunctional anyways…until we meet again!  Be blessed and highly favored!