October 11, 2010

Get Back in the Game

10 11 10 Monday

Living in Tuscaloosa I have seen this town live and die by the Crimson Tide.  After winning the National Championship last season and rolling off 19 wins a row this place as been sky high. Well, Bama lost this weekend, for those of you who live in a cave.  Even if you don’t care about football you probably already knew this fact.

The question is how do we respond after a defeat, a failure, or set back?  The football team will have to respond in their next game. We have to respond too.  When things happen to us in life that knock us off our feet, end our perfect record, how do we respond is critical.  There are always going to be those days when nothing seems to work right.  Do we panic, go to pieces, blame others, quit and give up?  Or do we regroup, get back up, correct our mistakes and make the necessary adjustments?  We have to get back in the game of life.  Our tough times can make us tough and that is fine, but we still have to be flexible and pliable.  Allow God to use the tough times in our lives to enable us to reach our destiny.  Just like to Tide, we can regroup and get back in the game

October 10, 2010

Obstacle Course

10 11 10 Sunday

I love talking about destiny, the fact that we all have a destiny, and that we can fulfill our destiny.  I do, however, know that there will be obstacles along the way.

I do know that you can over come any obstacle that presents itself in your life. Keep the main thing the main thing.  The main thing, though, is to maintain peace in your life.  Do whatever it takes to keep peace.  There will be times when we face things that don’t seem right.  We will face things that are not by our doing.  We will face things that are not fair.  Life seems to always find a way to be unfair.  So what do we do when there is a mountain between us and our destiny?  What do we do when we find that we have no peace in our lives?  Both are great questions.  For me, and it may be different for you, but I have to keep in the forefront of my mind; that things will happen and they will test us.  By passing the test we learn and grow.  When I fail a test I know also know that I will get the retake it.  There is peace in knowing that you are doing your best and that things will work out for those that do not give up.  We have to do what is right.  Not giving up is contingent on the fact that you are doing the right thing. Never quit trying, but there are times when we have to change directions because we have been going the wrong way.  So find peace, in knowing that you are doing the right thing and that you are not giving up.  Together we will reach our destiny.

October 9, 2010

Big Dawg

10 09 10 Saturday

I hope that you are having a great weekend.  Never take for granted how blessed we really are.  We sometimes overlook just how good we have it.  Even our worse days are better than most folk best days.

My parents used to have a dog, a very little dog, I don’t know what kind, but it was small.  However, I promise his eyes were in backwards.  What I mean is that he thought he was much bigger than he really was.  He would go up against the biggest dogs, but then every dog was bigger.  He thought he was a Big Dawg.  Why can’t we be that way? We look at the challenges we are going up against as so much bigger than we are.  What are you facing today? Do you see it as overwhelmingly huge?  Take the mindset of my folks dog; look at it from his perspective.  You are much larger on the inside than anything you are facing today.  Change your perspective and you change the outcome.  Begin to see yourself the way you really are and how you will be.  You are a Champion.  You are an overcomer.  You are more than good enough.  You are victorious.  Do the right thing and no matter what it looks like you will come out the winner.

October 8, 2010

Speaking a Blessing

10 08 10 Friday

Today I want to speak blessings in your life.  We hear so much negative stuff spoken into our lives; it’s time we hear the truth; the positive.

I want to speak into your life some positive stuff. I hope that you will allow me that honor.  You are more than capable of fulfilling your destiny. God has gifted you with an incredible gift to walk out your destiny. Your past has not negated your destiny but has qualified you to live your destiny.  You are smart enough to do it.  You have the physical ability and the mental capacity to make a difference in this world.  There is nothing or no one that is better at what it is you have been created to do.  There is no one that can stop you from reaching your destiny.  There are no limits to how high you can go.  You will make a significant difference in folks lives.  Everything you do makes a difference in the world.  You are not insignificant, but you are valuable, precious, and very costly.  There are many people depending on you to be you.  Don’t try to be anyone else; they are already taken, just be yourself.  You can make the changes necessary to be the whole person you so desire to be.  You can make the adjustments, you have it in you to do it.  You have been wonderfully and perfectly designed and created, don’t short change yourself or let anyone bring you down.  Be who you were created to be.  You are incredibly awesome! You are cared about, you are loved and appreciated.  You will never face another day that you are not prayed for, lifted up or believed in.  Together we can!

October 7, 2010

Not Alone

10 07 10 Thursday A lot of the time we attempt to cover up our hurt and pain. We put on the strong persona and act like we got it all under control. Our fear, insecurity, pain, hurt & pride will make us try to look tough when in reality we are weak.

That description is mostly what I have tried to do for most of my life. It has taken a whole lot of brokenness to get me to see it. I can see this is why I am able to see through others and recognize the hurt and pain they are carrying. Then again, most of us have some type of hurt or pain in our lives. I am referring to those that have been devastated by life. What may be devastating to you may not be to someone else and vise versa. The thing is that we are sensitive to other folks area. I want to stress to you that there is hope, there is reconciliation and restoration. Someone does care and you do matter. The enemy of your life will try to get you to think no one cares and that you don’t count. Nothing could be farther from the truth. You have incredible value and worth. The situation you are going through right now will end. You will come out a better person and on top if you will to. It more than likely will not be easy, but it is possible. So don’t give up, give in or give out. There are folk on your side. I am cheering and rooting for you right now. I believe in you and know that your destiny is still intact. Always remember you are loved and appreciated. Keep your head up and hope alive!

October 6, 2010

Feeling the Hurting

10 06 10 Wednesday

There are so many hurting folk.  So, so many folk that are crying out inside for help on the outside.  What to do? We all are in this group to some degree.

I can’t explain how I feel about this.  For the past few days I have been really sensing the hurt in other folk.  Nothing weird really, but it’s like I feel their pain to some degree.  While sitting at a red light Monday, as the folk came by me, it was like every third one was wiping their eyes.  I know most probably had a cold or something, but what about the ones that didn’t? There are so many folk that hold in their hurts all day long and on their way home from work, school or where ever and on their way home they let out all the hurts.  The tears flow, the crying out to God for help, the wondering when will it all end or will it ever end.  Will the hurt and pain ever go away?  There are so many folk right there, right now.  I can feel their pain, their crying out.  Sounds crazy, but I think we all feel it.  Some choose to do something about it, some don’t.  I have to do something to help the hurting.  If you are hurting today, you are close to my heart. I stand with you, beside you. I support you, I believe in you and lift you up in prayer.  You are not alone!

October 5, 2010

Brokenness & Humility

10 05 10 Tuesday

There is a lot to be said about humility and brokenness.  I have wrote about them both and have experienced them both on more than one occasion.  The most recent experience was this weekend.

We all have had times in our lives when we have been humbled and/or broken.  That was the case for me this weekend.  I have written about having put my family through some trying times in the past year and really I have a history of doing this all my life.  I spent a great deal of time this weekend trying to get the root of my issues.  I realized that I have lived in fear for the most of my life.  I covered the fear up with pride and selfishness.  My insecurities then would be hidden; so I thought.  I believe most of you have some idea of what I am talking about here; if not in yourself in someone you know.  Once I started dealing with the fears and insecurities; I then come to realize that I had never let those closest to me to love me.  By that I mean mainly Melissa, my wife.  She knew this, that is the awesome part.  She had been waiting on me to see it.  She could have told me, but she knew because of my pride, selfishness and insecurity defense mode I wouldn’t have been able to understand it.  However, when I humbled myself, allow the brokenness to enter and tear down the walls, and allow the hurt to dissipate; then I was able to receive.  This may be simply math for you, but for me it was overwhelming.  I still haven’t gotten it all yet, and I hope I never do, in that I want it to keep growing and developing in me, but I will keep myself in a state of humility, brokenness, teachability, receiving, and loving.

I hope this has helped you in some way.  If nothing else to understand me better and to know me more.  I desire to be open, honest, and transparent before God, my wife, my family.  Thank you for your love and prayers.  The same goes out to you.

October 4, 2010

Speak Easy

10 04 10 Monday

I believe the best for your life today.  You may be having what to you seems like the worse day ever, but I believe it is going to turn around.  Speak life to yourself day, speak favor into your life today.

We may not have much control over what happens to us in our lives, but we have full control over what happens in us.  Our response is totally up to us. So speak life to your life each day.  Practice by taking 5 minutes a day and say nothing but good things about yourself and your family.  Things may not look good, but that does not mean we have to accept it.  I speak positive stuff over you right now.  You will have favor and not negative stuff.  I want you to know that I believe in the best for you and yours right now.  I believe you in.  There is so much just waiting for you. God has so much in store for your life.  Bring out those good things.  Let the good in your life become the best in your life and experience your greatest life today.  I speak blessings over you. I speak the greatest to you today.  It is true that our habits form us.  Let’s make our habits; good habits.  Begin speaking life today!

October 3, 2010

Poster Child

10 03 10 Sunday

I had the chance to spend the past few days in my hometown.  Went down Thursday and came back yesterday.  I know that it was a divine time for me.  A time of divine appointments and brokenness.

“It’s not about me,” has been going through my mind.  My life, my destiny, my purpose, is not about me, but about others.  I have really been dealing with that issue and that of humility.  Can I say, “I am proud of my humility.” Just kidding, but I know that I have to deal with the issue of pride, selfishness, and ego in my life.  I think there are plenty of us in that group, but I just very well may be the poster child.  After spending some time with the likes of Linc Lewis, Landon Hilt, Bob Bumpers, David McKee, to name a few, I have seen where I am so lacking in these areas.  It is one thing to talk it, but we all know it is something else to walk it and live it.  I really do hope that this is an encouragement to you.  Just to know if you are dealing with these same issues, then you are not alone.  I desire to be more like to my awesome wife, who is the poster child for people person’s.  She has incredible people skills, even my 7 year old daughter has great people skills.  Be encouraged that, yeah, you are not alone.  Together we will get there!

October 2, 2010

Broke Down

10 02 10 Saturday

The power of brokenness or being broken is highly underrated.  It is not a fun period in our lives but a necessary one if we are to grow and become a person of destiny.

We all have times in our life when we have to go through a period of brokenness.  Some times are harder than others.  It is the hard times though that really show us who we are and who are going to be.  Nobody likes going through the brokenness times, but if we don’t we will never make the changes that produce what we are to be.  The gift of destiny is inside of you, but it gets all covered up and tangled up by the issues of life that we go through.  This brokenness is the sloughing off the tissue that has covered our destiny gift.  When we go though the periods of brokenness we get rid of the hurts, disappointments, unforgiveness, selfishness, and so on that has attached itself to our inner self.  Don’t despise the brokenness times of your life.  They are making you into the awesome person that you are.  When the truth of our inner self is being revealed to us, it can be a sad time.  We really find out what we are like.  I know for me, I don’t like it, but I am ready to make the changes necessary.  I want to be a person of destiny. I desire to be a person that makes a difference in other folk’s lives.  I know you do too. We are in this together.  Together we will make a difference in the world!