February 21, 2011

Standing in the Gap

02 21 11 Monday

I really hate those days when I get something in my mind and I can’t seem to shake it loose.  It just gets in there and won’t let me go.  However, I know that I have to take control of my mind, renew it, and keep renewing it.

You may never have those moments or days, but from time to time I still have them. It is like a dark cloud following me.  My mind can torment me like nothing else in the world.  The thing is, I know it when it happens, but it is almost like I am helpless.  I know better and I know that I don’t have to allow my mind to do me this way, but it can be a strong bugger to fight.  If you know what I am talking about then I also want you to know that I am fighting for you.  I stand with you against any attack on your mind.  I firmly believe that we will soon be free of these attacks.  Not that the attacks on our mind won’t come, but we will be so mentally strong and built up together that they won’t phase us.  It may sound like a long shot and even crazy, but I believe we can do it.  Some of you may already be there, but those that aren’t; I stand in the gap for you.  I believe very strongly about this and very strongly believe in you.  I pray for my LYD partners everyday! So you are being lifted up and prayed for each day of your life. Together we stand!!

February 20, 2011

People are Hurting

02 20 11 Sunday

There are hurting folk everywhere.  Chances are you are in this group or have been at sometime.  What to do?

I talk to folk everyday that are hurting for one reason or another.  Maybe you are in this group today.  Some have had a train wreck at some point in their life and can’t seem to recover.  There are others that have made a mistake that lead to another that lead to another and so on.  There is pain in their voice.  Their heart is breaking.  What to do?  Some can’t see any way out, no answers, no clue to what to do.  You may not be in this group, but I have been, I have even caused some folk to be in this group during my life.  I understand that you are hurting today.  I know that there seems to be no one with you and there seems to be no one that cares.  Well, I am here to tell that there is someone with you and there are folk that do care about you.  Your life may seem out of control, but don’t give up, help is on the way.  When we come to the realization that we are messed up; then we can start to make the changes necessary to turn things around.  Today is your day to start making a change.  It’s time to walk out of the place your in and move into the peace and joy of life that you are wanting so bad.  Know that I pray for you everyday.  I stand with my partners and believe for your best day everyday.  I am on your side and God is on our side too.  I might not be too much, but God…  Today is your day!

February 19, 2011

Love Makes the World Go Round

02 19 11 Saturday

Elvis used to sing, “Welcome to my world, the door is always open…”  I have folk tell me quite a bit that I am very open, transparent, and honest about my life, my issues, my struggles.

The funny thing about that is; I used to be the most closed off and private person you would ever meet.  What changed the way I am? Taking out the mistrust of others, fear of others, and low self esteem of myself.  Then replacing that with trust, mercy, grace, acceptance and most of all love for folk.  If I can allow this to take place in my life there is no doubt that you can too.  It is a heart and a mind issue.  When we allow our heart to be filled with love for self and for others, then the mind will follow.  It is a transition.  The heart will transform quickly, but the mind is a process.  It is a process that takes place everyday.  We have to renew our mind daily, which really means, everyday.  There is nothing like having your mind free from all the mess and junk the world puts in it.  I know I felt like I had seaweed all tangled up in my head, but that is all gone.  The love of God will set your mind free from bondage.  Choose love today! Make the decision to let love by the guide of your mind and heart.  Love does make the world go round!

February 5, 2011

Reflection of Hope

02 05 11 Saturday

From time to time it’s good to take step back and see where you have come from, where you are and where you are heading.  First, we look at where we come from. That can be a loaded question for some of us.

I took such a look back in my life not long ago.  I focused mainly on the past couple of years.  I was not happy with what I saw, but nevertheless it was there.  Many of you don’t know a lot about my past.  As this blog grows that number grows even larger.  The one word that really sums up my past and especially the past few years would be selfishness.  I was one of the most selfish people you would ever meet.  That selfishness would manifest itself in many different ways.  I had a very addictive personality or spirit alive and well inside me.  The selfishness I had fed on the addictive nature I had during that time.  That addictive spirit did everything it could to destroy me, my family and everyone else in my life.  It came mighty close to succeeding too.  I was 36 hours away from divorce at one point.  However, there was one thing I held on to; that was hope.  I knew there was hope for me, my family and my destiny.  God has worked a miracle in my life during the past two years.  I can honestly saw that I am not the same person I was then.  I still have changes to make and will never stop growing.  I hope this has given you some hope of your own.  There is hope for you too.  No matter what your past, your right now and your future holds; there is hope.  Hope will keep you alive when nothing else or no one else is there.  Hope will keep you company when everyone has left you.  Hope is a wonderful companion now as is was then.  Never give up! Hope is in your corner

January 30, 2011

Pain of the Past

01 30 11 Sunday

We all have memories from our past that we would really like to forget.  However, forgetting is not that simple when it comes to hurts, failures, and disappointments.  Pain has a way of making us remember.

There is healing from the pain of the past though.  God has a wonderful way of removing the pain from our past hurtful memories.  The memory is still there, but when the pain is gone then we know we have been healed from the harmful effects.  Many folk carry around their past hurts, almost with a sense of pride, because they have developed a victim mentality.  Most of the time it was not on purpose, but the enemy kept them under such intense pressure.  Today you can begin to release that pain from your past.  Remember, Jesus took all that to the cross too.  Allow His healing to take it.  You can be healed from the pain of the past, but only if you desire it and then do it.  We weren’t created to carry that load of pain and grief.  Memories are fine, but the pain needs to go today.  Take from the memories ,the good, the lesson learned and leave the rest behind.  Unhook from it now.  Let it out of your system and never allow it to inner into you again.

January 29, 2011

Not Disqualified

01 29 11 Saturday

In spite of all the past mistakes we have made in our life; God still has a plan for us.  Don’t be discouraged by your past; be encouraged by your destiny.  We have not been disqualified.

For some of us we have thought that because of past mistakes and wrong decisions; we have been disqualified from our destiny.  This is not true.  Many times it is our mistakes and failures that qualify us for our purpose and destiny.  I have dealt with this in my own life.  There have been several periods in my life that I felt like God had put me on out of the way and forgotten about me.  When I would go through difficult times; I would think that my ever having a purpose or destiny was over.  I know this is not true, but the feeling can be hard to over come at times.  The enemy knows where we are weakest and will try to attack our mind in that area.  Stay focused on what God has said about your future and destiny.  I promise you that you have not been forgotten about or disqualified.  Folk may even try to make you feel that you have been, but it’s not true.  Get back up, learn from your past, and move forward.  I believe in you, standing with you, and counting on you.

January 25, 2011

Hip Hop Don't Stop

01 25 11 Tuesday

The other day my daughter, who is 7, came to me almost in tears, because she was having trouble with a Hip Hop dance routine she was trying to learn.  She told me she couldn’t do it and was going to give up.  Wonder how I reacted to that?

I am amazed at her young age how we start developing a give up mentality.  We feel like we aren’t good enough.  She doesn’t hear that at home, school, or church.  It is the nature that is in us at birth.  The older we get the more developed we become in that mindset.  We have to work at and train our mind to change.  Never give up! You are good enough and then some! You were created with purpose, destiny, and greatness in you!  How is it we let this go at a young age? The enemy of your life will plan negative seeds in your mind.  Don’t settle for average in your life.  Don’t let others tell you negative lies about yourself.  Train your self in the truth.  What does God say about you? He created you, you aren’t perfect, but the truth is what God says about you. The truth will always override the facts.

Well, about ten minutes after she and I talked, she came running back in the room telling me how she had gotten the routine down pat.  The truth was she could do it and failure was just part of the process.  What is the truth about you?

January 22, 2011

Even when…

01 22 11 Saturday

I was reading the other day and came across something that really has me thinking.  It was about the love that God has for us and how wonderful that love is.  Folk all time ask, if God is so loving why did this or that happen.

I honestly don’t know.  Sometimes we blame God for stuff that He had nothing to do with though.  If we never included Him in our plan or in what we were doing or even in our life. Then how can we blame Him for what goes on in our life? Again, I don’t know or even pretend to know all the why’s of life.  I am still trying get understanding about God loving me.  It should be simple, but for some reason I guess I am making it more difficult than it is.  He loves us enough to correct and discipline us.  He loves us enough to let us make our own decisions.  All that is well and good, but the thing that gets me is this; He loved me even when I turned my back on Him.  He loved me even when I was doing everything I could to hurt those that I said I loved.  He loves us even when…  To me that says it all.  When I didn’t deserve it the most; He loved me the most.  Not that I deserve it now, but He says I do; so I do.  Please don’t think that I am super spiritual, Christian.  I am just like you in that I make mistakes and make wrong choices.  I fall and I miss it, but now I know that God isn’t mad or punishing me.  He loves me so He corrects me and loves on me. That makes giving up not an option. His love will keep me getting me up every time I mess up.  God does love us so!

January 21, 2011

Correcting Love

01 21 11 Friday

Guilt and shame are not ways that God corrects us.  If that is what you feel then dump that and receive the correction God offers; His love.

I asked God to show me His love and the next thing I know He is correcting me and showing me things in my life that needed changing.  However, I realized that the guilt and shame that used to accompany correction was not present.  Then I realized that His love comes through correction and discipline.  Not the beat down, beat up, cut up and punishment I was so used to.  I had lived for so long outside the protection of His love that I just thought it was a way a life to have one disaster after another and feel so bad, so down, depressed and no good for anything.  I felt anything but loved.  No more! I am beginning to experience His love in a way I haven’t before; not at home, church, or anywhere else.  Not to say it wasn’t there and available, because it was, I just didn’t have my heart tuned in.  I had allowed Satan to tear me up for so long and call it Jesus.  He is a liar and the father of lies.  I see the truth of my life and it isn’t in condemnation and punishment.  Rather it is in the correction and discipline of a loving God.

I hope that this helps you in some way.  I could keep going but I really don’t like just talking about me, but today was different.  This has totally engulfed me and know there is yet more to come.  What are you feeling in your life today? Is it a loving God or a lying devil?

January 16, 2011

Peace and Joy

01 16 11 Sunday

Many of us have been hurt, wounded, disappointed and broken hearted in our lives.  Some of you may be in that place right now.  Today; allow forgiveness, restoration, reconciliation, hope, and love heal you.

We all have been in that place, but we don’t have to stay there.  Today is the day to receive what we need.  We need to have peace and joy no matter what has or is happening in our life.  We can’t control so much what happens to us, but we have full control of what happens in us.  I know from my own life that I need healing in areas.  So today, I stand with you as we break out of the place we have been in and move toward peace and joy.  There is a peace and a joy that we can have even in the worst of times.  Nothing can replace it.  Don’t go another day without the peace and joy you so deserve.  For some we have to humble ourselves and ask others to forgive us.  For some we have to forgive those that have hurt us so deeply.  Today is your day. I proclaim it! Healing is yours, peace is yours, and joy is yours.  Accept it! Hold on to it with all your heart.  I stand in agreement with you right now! Together we can walk in our destiny with peace and joy.