More Than Enough

"My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Jesus Christ." ~ Philipians 4:19 (ERV)

This morning I attended church service at One Community Church in Plano, TX.  Service was awesome! I left feeling spiritually full with a Word that I can use and apply to my everyday life.  While Pastor Edwards touched on several topics around finances, but one of most simplest ideas resonated with me the most.  The idea that, I have exactly what I need.  Truly, I have more than enough.

In my 37 years, I can honestly say that I have never gone without food, clothing, or shelter. As a child, I was blessed with a mother who was able to provide for me, and as an adult I have been blessed to provide for myself and my children.  Often times, my blessings have come THROUGH others, family and friends. But I know that ultimately ALL of my blessings have come FROM God.

If you are anything like me, you may think about how you can get more of what you already have or better.  It is human nature. And our culture often influences our wants and desires making us feel inadequate or that we don't have enough.

"But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied)." ~ 1 Timothy 6:8 (AMP)

If all I had right now was food and clothing, I would have so much more than many people in this world. But truthfully, I have so much more than that.  I have a roof over my head, health, healthy children, a mother, a father, family and friends, a job,  transportation, nice clothes, and a variety of food to eat.  That is just a short list of the things that I have been blessed with, my list could go on.  

When I think about how good God has been to me, I understand that I have MORE than enough.  I had an aha moment today! I need to focus more on giving thanks for what I do have and give less energy to what I don't have. I hope that you will do the same.

Remember, you are not alone.

Embrace and enjoy the journey...

God Bless! 
 
 

Getting Back In Focus

“When there is no vision, people get out of control…” ~ Proverbs 29:18 (CEB)

Several months have gone by since I have written a blog post.  Somehow along the way I lost focus of my vision to encourage others through my life experiences and the words that God gives me daily. Distracted by the routine of my own journey, I allowed my vision to become unclear and blurry. I have only focused on what was right in front me. I have become undisciplined and in a sense out of control.  I lost control and allowed other things to control me and how I spend my time; family obligations, work, school. All of those things are very important, but I still have a responsibility to stay on course and follow the vision. 

In the medical community this lack of focus is known as nearsightedness. A condition in which you can see objects near to you clearly but objects farther away are blurry.  The degree of a person’s nearsightedness affects their ability to focus on distant objects.  However, nearsightedness can be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses.

I believe we often lose focus on our vision because it seems like a distant object.  It seems so far away and out of reach. This distant and unattainable vision causes us to lose focus on what was once so clear.  We can correct this “nearsightedness” by changing our perspective, adjusting the lens of our mind, and refocusing on what was important when the vision was crystal clear.

If you had a vision of seeing yourself healthier, thinner, in a loving relationship, a different career, whatever your vision may have been, you can get back in focus.  Adjust your “eyeglasses” so your vision extends far beyond what may be distracting you today.  This doesn’t mean you will never lose focus again. It just means that you may need to remind yourself that it is time to clean your “eyeglasses” so you can see your vision clearly again.  As I close this post, I have my cloth in my hand ready to remove of the fog from the lens of my mind that has been holding me back from becoming all that God wants me to be. I hope that you will join me.

Embrace and enjoy the journey.

Be inspired, uplifted, and encouraged.

God Bless!

Remembering the L.A. Riots of 1992

20 years ago today my neighborhood, near the intersection of Florence and Normandie in Los Angeles became nationally recognized overnight, but in a very tragic way.  It was a time in my life that I will never forget; the images are permanently etched in my mind.  This morning I woke up with bittersweet memories of that moment in time, sad for what my city endured but proud to call it my hometown.

I was working at Ralph’s grocery store near the corner of Century Ave and Crenshaw Blvd at the time.  My Mother would not let me go to work because she feared that looters would enter the store and there would be dangerous upheaval.  When I called my Manager, a white male, to let him know that I wouldn’t be in to work I asked him if he planned on closing the store, he said no the store would remain open because he did not see any threat.  Sure enough, just a couple of hours after my call the store had been taken over by looters.  One of my co-workers informed me that the Manager was the first person to run upstairs and out of harm’s way, alone.  Wait a minute? I thought the Captain was supposed to go down with the ship? Not this one, he left every man and woman to fend for themselves.  Thank God for my Mother’s intuition.

I also remember driving through the streets of Los Angeles they day after the city had been set ablaze.  Many of the stores that I shopped at and eatery’s that I frequented were literally up in smoke.  I remember we could actually feel the heat from the smoldering brick and mortar.  It is something I never imagined I would experience in my lifetime. 

Though I fully understood the cause of the civil unrest, I never understood why we destroyed our own neighborhood.  The logic behind that has never made sense to me.  We were mad at “The Man”, but we took it out on ourselves. Really? How is that ok?

We couldn’t do routine business in our own neighborhood for a while.  I remember driving to Long Beach, just to go to the grocery store.  I also remember smelling a stench of racism in the air.  The beating of Reginald Denny seemed to remind White people that African American people are dangerous animals who should be feared and not trusted.  Our actions proved us fit for the part that we had been cast.

Though I do not live in Los Angeles anymore, the city will always be home to me.  It is where I was born and raised, where I spent most of my life.  I love L.A. and I have no shame telling people where I hail from.  In fact, when people from other parts of the country ask me where exactly in Los Angeles am I from, I answer their question with a question, “Are you familiar with the intersection of Florence and Normandie?” They usually respond, “Oh where the L.A. Riots started or where Reginald Denny was beaten?”  Absolutely correct. That infamous intersection in Los Angeles will always be home to me.

Post a comment to share your memories of the L.A. Riots of 1992?

Are You Second Guessing God's Blessing?

“And God gives us what we ask for. We receive it because we obey God’s commands and do what pleases him.” ~ 1 John 3:22 (ERV)

Have you asked God for something, He answered your prayer, and now you are no longer satisfied with the blessing? My answer to this question is, “Yes! All the time.” I am not proud about it, but I am just being honest. Our desires are fleeting, they come and go like the wind. I wouldn’t be surprised if God sat on his throne shaking head baffled by our confusion. Thankfully, He knows us better than we know ourselves so I’m sure He anticipates our ever-changing requests.

When we’re unemployed, we ask Him to bless us with a job. When we get that job we are satisfied for a while, at least until our bosses or co-workers get on our nerves or until we feel like we deserve more money. We ask Him for a mate and are appreciative when He sends someone our way that is until that person no longer tickles our fancy or does it for us, whatever “it” is! This list can go on and on. We always want more and are rarely content with God’s blessings.

Though scripture says that God gives us what we ask for (1 John 3:22) a little further down in the book of 1 John, we are given more specific instruction on how to ask God for things.

“…This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us)” ~ 1 John 5:14 (ERV)

He doesn’t quite operate like a Genie. Our wish isn’t exactly His command. We are not THE CREATOR, we are co-creators. Therefore our desires must align with His Will for our lives. If God just gave us ALL that WE wanted, He would be more like a Genie and not all knowing, all mighty God. In that case we could be our own God, serving our own purposes not His.

So the next time I find myself second guessing my blessing (and I will because I am human), I will remind myself that I asked for it. God blessed me with it. And it fits into His perfect plan though I may not fully understand. I have to constantly remind myself that it’s not about me. My life is not my own, it is His and His alone. The same blessings I am thankful for today, I should be thankful for tomorrow.

Embrace and enjoy the journey!

Be uplifted, inspired, and encouraged.

God Bless!

No Pain. No Gain. No Growth.

“Brothers and Sisters, I want you to know that all that has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News.” ~ Philippians 1:12-14 (ESV)

Like many, I have been on a journey hoping to discover my purpose. What am I REALLY supposed to be doing with my life? After spending some time exploring the Word of God, I now understand that my purpose on earth, our purpose is to spread the Good News. However, it is not enough to simply know about God if we want to spread the Good News. We have to experience Him and know Him intimately. It is through our pain and suffering that we truly know and believe the power of God and can begin to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

It is so easy caught up in the day to day activities of our lives and forget that NOTHING that we experience is about us. The relationships that we have, the children that we raise, the jobs that we work, none of it is REALLY about us. The core of our being and reason for existence is to glorify and honor God. The pain that we experience is what brings us closer to Him and helps us to recognize His power and our dependence on Him. Pain is also necessary for us to grow in patience and maturity.

“My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be” ~ James 1:2-4 (ESV)

Pain is a prerequisite for progress. No pain. No gain. No growth. If you never experience trouble or tests of faith your growth will be stunted, your endurance will be insufficient, and you will never reach your full potential. So if you ever want to ask God the question, “Why me?” I challenge you to rephrase the question “Why NOT me?” I want to be ALL that God wants me to be. How about you?

Be uplifted, encourage, and inspired.

Remember you are not alone…

Embrace and enjoy the journey!

God Bless!

In Loving Memory: Don't Cry For Whitney, No One is the Blame

In 1987, my 6th grade class sang Whitney Houston's classic, "The Greatest Love of All" at our graduation ceremony. It happens to be one of my most memorable moments of elementary school, of my youth. I also remember singing a long to a number of her #1 hits about love and relationships, well before I had ever experienced a relationship. To this day, many of those lyrics are etched in my memory. From the first beat of the song, I am taken back to a time when life was carefree and easy. Complete nostalgia.

Back then I would have never imagined that I'd be sitting here 25 years later, writing about someone that I've never met, yet had an impact on my life and the way I see God and the world around me. Tomorrow Whitney will be laid to rest. I will be among the many viewers paying my respects from afar and celebrating her life and music.

I know many of us believe that she is gone too soon. But if you know God you have to know that her work here was done. He is never early, never late, but always right on time. The how and the why really doesn't matter. Only He knows why she came and why she is gone. Perhaps she did exactly what he needed her to do. Whitney Houston touched more people than many of us have that have not struggled with drugs or alcohol. Why? Because she used her God given gift and blessed the world. I don't know about you, but EVERY TIME I hear her sing the "Star Bangled Banner" I get chills. That rendition is definitely spirit filled and I haven't "felt" anyone else sing it the way she did.

In spite of it all, it appeared Whitney never stopped loving God. No matter what her struggles were she seemed to always give God the glory. That my friends is ALL He really wants from each and every one of us. Based on the news reports, even in the days and hours before her death she was singing His praises at a night club and in her hotel room. Was she perfect? No. None of us are. If we're honest with ourselves, we all have to fight the Devil daily and more often than we care to admit, he wins. And with fame and fortune comes an even greater fight. As far as I'm concerned Whitney fought a good fight. She could have given up a long time ago, but it seemed she kept on going even if it hurt along the way.

Regardless to what the media reports and what the investigation may reveal, God's Truth lies in the lyrics of a song that Whitney sang many years ago..."Don't Cry for Me.". Self-fulfilling prophecy? Maybe. But the truth nonetheless:

Here We Are Again
That Old Familiar Place
Where The Winds Will Blow
No One Ever Knows The Time Nor Place

[Chorus:]

Don't Cry For Me
Don't Shed A Tear
The Time I Shared With You Will Always Be
And When I'm Gone
Please Carry On
Don't Cry For Me

No One Is The Blame
My Death Was Meant To Be
Don't Carry Guilt Nor Shame
The Reason Why I Came Soon You'll See

[Chorus]

Don't Cry When Life Is Not The Joy It Should Be
With Life Comes Pain
Soon Time Will End This Course Appointed
And You Will Be Rewarded

And All The World Will See
Don't Cry For Me
Don't Shed A Tear
The Time I Shared With You Will Always Be

And When I'm Gone
Life Still Carries On
Don't Cry For Me
We'll Always Be
Don't Cry For Me

Only God knows the time, the place, and the reason we end our race. I challenge every Whitney fan and critic to stir up your own gifts, give God the glory and see how many people you can touch while trying to keep up with life's pace. When I get to the finish line I hope to have touched at least a miniscule fraction of those that Whitney touched in spite of her obstacles. As my late grandmother used to say, "you today, me tomorrow." You never know when your lot in life is going to take a turn for the worse or the better. You just have to trust God along the way and count it All joy!

Thank you Whitney Houston for being a DIVA!

D - Divinely
I - Inspiring
V - Vocal
A - Artist

We love you! We will miss you! May your soul rest in heavenly peace....

Don't cry for Whitney....just be the best you, that you can be. I'm sure that is what she would want for all of us. Be uplifted, encouraged, and inspired. God Bless!

Write it Down, Make it Plain

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you….write them on the tablet of your heart.” ~ Proverbs 3:3 (NASB)

While doing some pre-Spring cleaning this weekend, I came across a journal that I had not made an entry in since January 2009. As I scanned the pages, one entry in particular caught my attention. I had begun writing a letter to God declaring my desire for a healthy, loving relationship, one that would ultimately glorify Him. Here is an excerpt from my journal:

01/17/2009

Dear Lord,

I have heard more than once that if I want something to happen in my life I need to write it down and make it plain…so here goes…

I want and need a good man in my life. A man that:
1. Loves You Lord and seeks to understand you more and more each day.
2. Is spiritual and leans on you for understanding and direction in everything he does – a man who has faith.
3. Shares similar values and beliefs.
4. That is looking for his wife – his queen.
5. Is done playing games and is ready for a committed relationship that will ultimately lead to marriage.
6. Doesn’t mind going to church regularly – does go to church.
7. Is single (no wife, girlfriend, etc.).
8. Is drug and disease free.
9. Does not smoke or abuse alcohol (social drinking is ok).
10. Had or has a good relationship with his mother and the rest of his family.
11. Is a good communicator.
12. Is patient, kind, respectful, and considerate.
13. Has an open mind and tolerant of people and their choices.
14. Someone who understands love is action not just a feeling.
15. Someone willing to take the time and make the effort to get to know my children and be their friend first, then someone they can respect and look up to.

The list goes on, but I won’t bore you with the rest of the details. I had written approximately 50 characteristics that I desired in a mate. And if I can recall, I was not done. I stored the journal in a closet with every intention of revisiting it to complete the list but I never did. In fact, it was the last entry I made in that journal.

Fast forward almost 3 years to the date, this weekend I found myself traveling back in time reading the thoughts that were on my heart and mind during that season of my life. As I read over each item on my list, I had an epiphany. God had answered my prayer. I may have put the closet away never to read it again. It was out of sight, but not out of mind. The words had also been written on tablet of my heart.

“…You, LORD JEHOVAH, know what is in the heart of everyone; show the one which you have chosen…” ~ Acts 1:24

A little over four months ago, God reunited me with a classmate from junior high school. Though I didn’t connect the dots at that time, I now understand that the man that I described in my letter to God is now a very special part of my life. God knew my heart and God chose him. God blessed me with someone that personifies so much of what I had written in my journal. While I never doubted God, the experience has been extremely surreal. This may be hard for anyone to believe. But just to show how much God pays attention to the details, I had also written that I wanted someone that did not have very young children, I specifically wrote: no younger than 8 years-old. I don't even know why that was the magic number. But when we began getting to know each other his daughter was 8 years-old. Wow! There's nothing too big or too small for my God!

Scripture says that when you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). If you desire a healthy, loving relationship that ultimately glorifies the Lord, get a journal, write it down and make it plain, on the tablet of your heart. Be patient and watch God work!

I don’t know what the future holds but I am definitely embracing and enjoying the journey!

God Bless!