Hello world!
I’m making my three year old a sneakerhead. This has to be some sort of record for the youngest, most sneaker obsessed individual to walk this earth. And she doesn’t just limit it to sneakers, she has a taste for Uggs too. Her godmom keeps her laced (because you never go against the family) in nothing but the best.
Here’s what I purchased for her today:
New Purchases 9/13/08
One pair of low, double tongue Converse, a Girly pair of AF1s (pink swoosh & flowers, not to mention the sky blue color, she will be rocking these quite often) and two Ice Cream Adidas. Two Adidas because I couldn’t decide and I thought the darker pair was too…boyish.
Current Shoe Collection
And here is her current shoe colection. My girl loves her Nike . Note there are only two pair of ’shoes’ and her Uggs. Those Uggs are an expensive habit…need to curb that immediately before it’s out of control. Maybe too late.
While I was shoe shopping (and thanking GOD that I had the money to make this purchase), my mind began to wonder if I’m turning my child into a materialistic neyophite. I don’t consider her shoes ‘gifts’, but I may be compensating for the lack of a father figure in her life by creating (and nurturing) this show fetish. I love it that when she goes to daycare or anywhere for that matter, no other kid has what she has on. No, I’m not buying those gay New Balances with Elmo and Cookie Monster on the side (although the Elmo joints are kinda hot). Not her style. But by doing this and unintentionally turning my daughter into the center or attention, am I turning her into a stereotype; a materialistic black woman who cares for nothing but labels and the latest trend? These are not my intentions so maybe I need to take a step back and reasses……but I can’t wait to see her face when she sees her new shoes!
OMG how I love this man....
Oct 8 Boston/Opera House
Oct 9 New York/Radio City Music Hall
Oct 10 Wallingford/Chevrolet Theatre
Oct 12 Toronto/Massey Theatre
Oct 14 Cincinnati/The Taft Theatre
Oct 15 St. Louis/Fox Theatre
Oct 17 Indianapolis/Murat Theater
Oct 18 Chicago/Chicago Theater
Oct 19 Detroit/Fox Theatre
Oct 21 Minneapolis/Orpheum Theater
Oct 22 Omaha/Music Hall
Oct 23 Kansas City/Uptown Theatre
Oct 25 Denver/Paramount Theatre
Oct 28 Oakland/Paramount Theatre
Oct 31 Las Vegas/Pearl
Nov 1 Los Angeles/Shrine Auditorium
Nov 6 Houston/Verizon Theatre
Nov 8 Dallas/Majestic Theatre
Nov 10 Birmingham/BJCC Hall
Nov 11 Memphis/Orpheum Theater
Nov 12 Atlanta/Civic Center
Nov 14 Greensboro/Coliseum Theatre
Nov 15 Richmond/Landmark Theatre
Nov 17 Washington DC/Constitution Hall
Nov 21 Philadephia/Susquehanna
So you know when he comes to ‘Philadelphia’ (which is really code for Camden WaterFront), I’ll be there. Surfing the web for any and all ticket possibilities. Could care less about Jaz Sullivan or whomever is opening for him. Gotta see my dude….OMG……can’t wait love him! On the Kanye Workout Plan as we speak. Back out, legs showing and all on Riverline (public transportation) lmao. Hype now.
My first favorite Maxwell video. He’s nekkid, wet and belting out panty melting ballads while smiling. Nuff said.
Makes no sense to have all those phyne ass dudes in one video. No sense at all. Damn shame. He’s shaking his hair, has on leather pants and is still flashing that pretty, panty-melting smile.
Two of the best videos he’s ever done. Can’t wait for the concert to see exactlt what songs he pulls out of the vault.
Just in case you didn’t realize this, I wanted to put it in your ear…..
You are your daughters first love, you are the first man in her life to show her exactly what unconditional love is. Remember this. If you’re an at-home dad keep this in mind the next time she makes you angry, or when you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Remember your little girls smile and that should melt the pains of the day away.
If you’re a baby daddy (aka weekend dad) you need to be more strategic. Be prepared for questions like ‘well how come this other little girl lives here with you all the time and I don’t dad’ and ‘how come you don’t come see me everyday daddy’. You made the decision to leave your family (circumstance pending of course) so you need to make sure you do whatever you need to, to still show her that unconditional love if you’re not around. And whatever you do, don’t get hyphy when another dude steps up and shows your seed that 24/7 love that you’re only able to show Friday through Sunday. Be happy that someone is there taking care of and treating your daughter right. A happy mom makes for an even happier baby. Remember that.
I think if more black men knew this fact, they would be better fathers.
Nite nite, love your faces……
….I want him to myself I can’t help it……
The question of the day:
Am I destined to be alone for the rest of my life? And, should that be the case, am I willing to accept that fact and persevere through it?
Drinking from my saucer (A very spiritual and true poem)
I’ve never made a fortune, and it’s probably too late now.
But I don’t worry about that much, I’m happy anyhow
And as I go along life’s way,
I’m reaping better than I sowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
Haven’t got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going’s tough
But I’ve got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank GOD for his Blessings,
and the Mercies HE’s bestowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.
So LORD, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
If GOD gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I’ll not ask for other blessings,
I’m already Blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads..
Then I’ll keep drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
Psalm 92:1-2 (New Living Translation)
1 “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.”
2 “It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening,”
1 Corinthians 15:57 (New King James Version)
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 30:5 (New King James Version)
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”
Philippians 2:14 (New International Version)
“Do everything without complaining or arguing,”
As we wind down to the end of another year we tend to reflect on the past year and what has or what has not happened in our lives. There are so many people that go around complaining, always looking at what’s wrong in their lives. Their happiness and joy depends on everything in their lives being just right. They think they cannot be happy until all of the circumstances in their lives are right. They see the negative in every situation, and then they wonder why they are not enjoying their lives. Face it, we all experience times in our life when we feel down for various reasons, but we can’t allow our circumstances to control our emotions nor our situations. Realistically, we can’t go around with an ungrateful, unthankful attitude. It is a heart issue, and when we do not get to the root cause and start being more grateful, our situations are never going to change.
The devil seeks to fill your mind with negative thoughts and emotions that cause you to complain and feel down because simply put, the devil is a discourager. But God is your encourager and the lifter of your spirit. God didn’t give us mouths to complain about everything that is wrong in our lives. You may not have everything you would like today. In fact, you may be dealing with a lot of problems and right now, and cannot even see a way out. But know complaining is only going to make matters worse. Quit taking inventory of everything that is wrong, and start thanking God for what is right, for what God has already done or what He is already given. Until you have a grateful attitude, you are going to stay right where you are. Remember this: no matter how many negative things you have going on in your life right now, there is somebody who would love to trade places with you. For instance, you may not like your job right now and complain, complain and complain every single day you are there, but realize today that there are so many people that would love to have a job to go to everyday. You may not like where you are living, but there are so people who don’t have a homes today. You may only have a ten dollars in your pocket or even just ten dollars in the bank, but know that there is someone who wishes they had that ten dollars today. We need to change our perspective on the things in our lives and start being more grateful and looking for what is right.
We all experience times of frustration and distress over unfilled hopes and dreams or even an unfortunate loss. You may be saying today, “Lord, I have been through so many disappointments this year. I lost my job, I lost my business, I lost my house, I am always financially strapped and my marriage didn’t work out. Lord, I have just lost so much this year. How is it possible that you expect me to be grateful or look for the good through my situation?” It is normal to feel some disappointment when things don’t go according to your plans. But know and remember this today, we need to follow God’s Plan for our lives. Yes, things may have made you feel sad temporarily, but when you know that weeping only lasts for a time and joy is just around the corner, you will start to feel better. When you remember that if it had not been for the goodness of God; you could have lost it all. If it had not been for God’s grace and mercy, you may not even be here today. So, stop looking at what you have lost, stop looking for what’s wrong and start thanking God for what you have left and what is right in your life. Remember Psalm 30:5 today, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
A Prayer for Today
Lord, I am reminded of the song, by Walter Hawkins today called Be grateful. Be grateful, there is someone else who is worse off than me. Be grateful, there someone else who would like to be in my shoes. Be grateful even though the hard times and good ones too. So Lord, no matter what comes against me today, I am going to have a grateful attitude. I am going to look for what is going right in my life today and not constantly look for what is going wrong. Lord, I am going to find some reason to give You thanks today. Yes, I may not have a job right now, but I thank God for you keeping me in my home. Yes, financially things may be extremely tough right now, but Lord I thank You for always making a way, when it seems like there is no way. Yes Lord, I may have had experienced a loss today, but I thank God for your grace and mercy and your keeping power. Lord I am going to change my perspective, look at things in a different light and stop looking at what is wrong and start looking at what is right in my life today.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Psalm 40:9 (New King James Version)
“I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know.”
Psalm 19:14 (New King James Version)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
Proverbs 6:2 (New Century Version)
“You might get trapped by what you say; you might be caught by your own words.
Proverbs 12:18 (Contemporary English Version)
“Sharp words cut like a sword, but words of wisdom heal.”
Proverbs 18:21 (New King James Version)
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Psalm 35:28 (New King James Version)
“And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.”
Psalm 141:3 (New Century Version)
“Lord, help me control my tongue; help me be careful about what I say.”
What would happen if every morning we gave our mouth to God so that only godly things came out of our lips? Psalm 34:13(NKJV) says, “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.” Dedicate your mouth to God and use it only for what pleases Him: praise and worship; edification and exhortation and giving thanks. Give your mouth to God through praying His word, “O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. (Psalm 51:15, NKJV)
Parents, you want the best for your children, right? And there are many situations where you as a parent must confront and correct your children. But even a well-meaning parent can speak the kind of negative words that will destroy a person quicker than you can imagine. For example, saying things like: “Why can’t you make better grades? Why don’t you dress better?” “You can do anything, right can you? And “You will never amount to anything!” will tear down a child faster that you can even imagine. Remember, our words become self-fulfilling prophecies. Negative thoughts give birth to negative words and then from those words negative actions can manifest themselves.
So, do you see the power of your words? Be extremely careful at what you allow to come out of your mouth! There are so many adults hurting and suffering today because of the negative and discouraging words their parents spoke over them as children instead of encouraging them and lifting them up. So parents, the next time you are tempted to belittle or degrade your child or; for all if us, if you feel the need to talk down to someone, always remember – you can’t get those words back. Know that God will hold you responsible for your words and their impact!
Our words have tremendous power and are similar to seeds. By speaking them aloud, they are planted in our subconscious minds, take root, grow and produce fruit of the same kind. Whether we speak positive or negative words, we will reap exactly what we sow. That is why we need to be extremely careful what we think and say. James 3 verses 1-12 speak on the “Untamable Tongue.” Anything undisciplined and untamable will be wild and uncontrollable, always wanting to do its own thing. The human tongue is no different. No man can tame the tongue – not by himself. You need the Holy Spirit’s help, but God will not do it all for you. You must discipline your mouth and take responsibility for what comes out of it. In particular, James 3:4-5 compares the tongue to the small rudder of a huge ship, which controls the ship’s direction. Similarly, your tongue can and will control the direction of your life. You create an environment for either good or evil with your words, and if you are always murmuring, complaining and talking about how bad life is treating you, you are bound to live a pretty miserable life. Use your words to change your negative situations and fill them with life.
Similarly, have you ever said something that hurt someone else or even worse hurt yourself? There are so many people who just say whatever they feel like saying. They have no disregard for other people’s feelings. But we must understand that words are powerful. What you say has the power to impact your life and the lives of others – whether it be good or bad. So it is a good practice to think about what you are going to say to someone before you say it.
How do you talk about your future? Are you speaking positive or negative? If you are not satisfied with your life and want to see it change, begin speaking over yourself according to God’s word. Let your words be in agreement with God’s Holy Word and you will be greatly blessed. Our words are vital in bringing our dreams to pass. Begin to speak words of faith, victory, health and success over your life. Remember, the moment you speak something out, you give birth to it. So, don’t misuse the power or words by talking too much without faith or talking too little about your faith. Choose kind and gentle words that lift people up and quiet gossip and strife. Believe that God’s grace will prevail through what you say. You could experience a new sense of joy in your home and in your life if you would simply stop talking about the negative things in your life and begin talking about God’s words. Simply put, your words can make or break you. If you are always talking about your problems, do not be surprised if you live in continual defeat. Quit speaking words of defeat and start speaking words of victory. Don’t use your words to describe your situation; use your words to change your situation and change your life!
A Prayer for Today
Lord, if I have been hurt by someone’s words and or if I have hurt someone with my words, I ask for your forgiveness today. Lord, I ask you to help me heal from the negative words that may have been spoken to me as a child and Lord, I also ask you to help me exercise control over the words that come out of my mouth today. I know I have the power with my words to tear someone down, so Lord I ask that you help me watch what I say and only speak words that lift people up, encourage and edify. Lord, I speak forth a miracle from my mouth today as I only speak forth life, positive thoughts and victory today. Lord, I know that the bible is so full of verses that talk about the power of words and the power of the tongue, so Lord I vow to meditate on them today and to speak only positive words so I can experience the victorious and blessed life you have just for me!
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Because that’s all I could do when reading this. I was so frustrated but if this is how men really feel….i respect it because ignorance is a part of everyday culture evidently. Being as though more and more men are absent in the home…this speaks volumes…ignant volumes but volumes all the same. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE comment.
This not is from a FB friend of mine, Chyone Micah entitled ‘15 Reasons To Not Date A Woman With Kids’ o_O
15 reasons for a single man not to date a women with kids!
1) Baby Damage – Birth has a traumatic effect on the female form. Pregnancy leaves stretch marks, saggy breasts, and c-section scars. I’ve also heard that the nookie is even stretch out and it isn’t the same anymore. Then there’s the weight gain. Most women NEVER LOSE IT or they never get their former hot shape back.
2) “I Can’t Find A Baby Sitter” – Women will use this as an excuse to get out of date with you or they may legitimately can’t find a baby sitter. Either case it isn’t your problem and you shouldn’t have to deal with it.
3) Babies Interrupt Sex – I’ve had this happen to me. I was banging a woman and her kid interrupted my sex. Needless to say I was pissed. If some kid is going to interrupt the meanest head you’ve ever gotten, that kid should have your last name.
4) Baby’s Daddy – When your dealing with a woman and your getting know her, you shouldn’t have to deal with kid’s father. Some guys can’t get over the fact that their ex has moved on. Before he was an un-attentive jerk and didn’t give a jolly damn about her. Now that you’ve entered into the picture, the dude wants to be the ideal boyfriend and a “father of the year,” nominee.” The guy stars stalking her and wants to fight you. Even if the woman and guy are on good terms, the guy feels as if he can always smash. He knows her. He knows what she wants to hear and what makes her happy. The next know you your having this conversation- “I’ve decided to try and make it work with Jimmy’s dad”. Best way to avoid the situation is to avoid single moms.
5) Rent-A-Daddy – Realizing her mistake, realizing that kids (especially boys need fathers,) The woman gets desperate, any and every guy has the potential to be “daddy.” You’re out trying to get some, not inherit a family.
6) The Kids Are Still Up – This is only a problem if your trying to pursue something other than a booty call. Wanting to spend time with you, but not wanting to bring strange men around her kids, you find yourself only seeing this female after 10 or 11PM. You want to move forward, but she has to make sure your the “one.” This could take months. I suggest dealing with women that are readily available to hang out.
7) Double Heart Break – You are with the woman, then everything falls apart. You not only do you have to deal with losing the woman, but you’ve formed a bond with lil’ Jimmy. You and Jimmy play HALO together, watch the Wizards’ hoop it up, go to the zoo, and things dads do with sons or daughters. On top of that you may not be missing the woman, but you may miss the kid.
Your Not My Dad. – You hook up with the woman, eventually the issue of discipline is going to come up. Some kids being resentful or just being a bratty prick is going to eventuallly pull the “YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!! YOUR NOT MY DAD!!!” card. Personally if I did date single mothers and some dumbass kid pulled that stunt on me, I would say, “Your right. I’m not your father. Since I have no authority over you and you refuse to listen to me, you need to pack your sh*t and go live with your dad.” This would be a deal breaker for me. In addition some mothers or the dad would have problem with you disciplining their kid. I’m sorry, if some kid broke my laptop, I’m whooping his ass.
9) You Know What She Going To Do – She already has one kid, if you knock her up, it’s safe to assume she’s going to have another one.
10) Bad Judge of Character – This female got knocked up by somebody that she was “supposedly in love with.” Not only is she a bad judge of character, she’s GROSSLY irresponsible. The same guy that’s an asshole now, is the same guy she thought the world of and had unprotected sex with.
11) Unnecessary Expenditures – Eventually you’ll get to meet the kid(s.) Soon those dates turn into family outings. Instead of paying for two people, your paying for three or more. The same goes if you move in with her.
12) You’ll Never Be #1 – When your trying to build a relationship with somebody, you should be the focus of the woman’s life. It should be about you and her. If she has a kid, you’ll NEVER BE #1!!! That’s not a bad thing either, but it’s something I don’t want to deal with. Neither should you.
13) Tag, Your It! – This should be the BIGGEST deterrent to EVER dealing with a single mother. In some jurisdictions, I think California is one of them, if you start dealing with a female with kids, move in with her and things go south. THE FEMALE CAN SUE YOU FOR CHILD SUPPORT!!!! She can claim that the her and child have “become accustomed to you supporting the child.” YOU COULD END UP POSSIBLY PAYING CHILD SUPPORT FOR A KID THAT ISN’T EVEN YOURS! Imagine being extorted money because you were doing what you thought was the “right thing.” The state doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the relationship being over or you being a “good guy.” They just don’t want the chick on welfare. So as far as your concerned, it’s “TAG, YOUR IT!”
14)An extra bill-Always keep in the back of your mind when dating a woman with kids that if you decide to get real serious with her and maybe one day tie the not, that you can already add an extra bill to your expenses, cause after a while of dating shes is going to expect you to pay for some things for the child nothing major, maybe like buy her and the child something to eat when yall go out, maybe get a few day care bills here and there or just contribute to some of the expenses that she has to take care of her child, she may not directly ask but in certain situations she may already expect you to, or she may just ask you as a test to see how yor respond, dont forget number 13, with that being said im not even buying that lil mother fucker a bag of chips.
15) whats not available to you-Why does every Woman feel as though they are entitled to a good man, especially if they fucked they life up and still want the best mate, for example. 3 children by 3 different baby fathers, BEFORE AGE 25 and want a man from the “A” list, FUCK OUTTA HERE !!!! Your stock has fallen drastically at that point. Its highly unlikely a A list Mr.Right is gonna be serious with a woman with 3 kids, I mean he may fuck her for kicks or something and act like he care but anything past a consistent fuck or a relationship that he doesn’t take seriously but she does that’s about it, but marriage fuck no, women you have to be more realistic, the guys that you want and you think that you deserve may not be the guys available to you, just cause you think that your a good women doesn’t necessarily mean that you actually are. Everybody validates themselves as a great and good person to be with, but the average person thinks there not average, No guy is taking care of another woman’s baggage, and the guys that do are idiots. Its not beneficial at all for a man to date a woman with 3 kids by 2 or 3 different fathers, shit even if its just one father, all that baggage its too much. An A list guy will never fuck wit a chick with all those kids, especially if he has a good job/career, nice car. decent home. Be more realistic ladies and know whats available to you.
“My name is Chyone Micah and I approve this facebook note.”
Just wow….that’s all I can say. Where’s the reverse? What about dudes who have ‘all these kids’ but still wants a good woman? There are just a plethora of questions that I’m holding WAY back. Looking 4ward to the thoughts. Had to post this….I did.
Genesis 3:12-13 (New King James Version)
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Psalm 18:3 (New Living Translation)
“I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.”
John 8:32 (New Living Translation)
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 2:5 (Contemporary English Version)
Mary then said to the servants, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.”
Proverbs 15:31 (New Century Version)
“If you listen to correction to improve your life, you will live among the wise.”
In Deuteronomy 7:1-2, God instructed his chosen and holy people (see Deuteronomy 7:6) to utterly destroy their enemies. They were to show no mercy. This is the same way when God tells us it is time to deal with our negative, faithless attitudes and it is time to throw away our excuses. No more rationalizing, “Well everybody else is negative; why should I be any different?” It is time to get some things over and done with in your life today. Get rid of the bad habits and the negative attitudes and move on with the bright future God has for you.
We don’t always want to face the truth in our lives because it can sometimes be tough. Frankly, there is nothing more emotionally painful than facing the truth about yourself and your actions. And, because it can be painful, most people run from it. Sometimes it shows us that we need to change. If we are behaving badly or if we are negative, we sometimes make excuses for our wrong behavior. But know this today; excuses will never make us free. Admitting your own mistakes, failures and facing the truth can prove to be difficult, but it is the only way to true freedom in your life. Let God get involved with finding the truth in your life today. The truth will always set you free to enjoy each and every day of your life.
Many people play the “Blame Game” when make excuses and trying to find the truth in their lives. In Genesis 3:12-13 we find a perfect example with Adam and Eve. When confronted with their sin in the Garden of Eden, they blamed each other; blamed the devil and even blamed God for their actions. This unwillingness to take personal responsibility by trying to blame anyone and anything that might be convenient was a major cause for them not living a victorious and triumphant life. Another example comes with the Israelites. While in the wilderness, the Israelites complained that all their problems were the fault of God and Moses. This was one of the major factors that kept them wandering in the wilderness for forty years, when they could have been living in the promise land (see Numbers Chapter 14 and Numbers 32:13).
Finding the truth in our lives involves your ability to hear God’s voice. Sometimes we are unwilling to hear in one or many areas in our lives, especially when God is trying to speak to us about certain things that we may need to change in our lives. Sometimes we may even turn a deaf ear to what you know the Lord is clearly saying to you; and that is more commonly known as “Selective Hearing.” If you really want to face the truth and stop the excuses in your life, you cannot approach God with selective hearing, hoping to just narrow down the topics to only what you want to hear or areas in which “you” only think you need to take responsibility for. God will speak to you about many issues in your life and will speak to you on areas where you need to change. So, if you will just be still today, simply listen and obey His direction, he can and will help you face and find the truth about yourself, take responsibility and then help you move forward to enjoy the blessed filled life he has planned just for you.
A Prayer for Today
Lord, I know that I am not perfect today. So Lord, I ask that You help me clearly “hear” You and not turn a deaf ear when You are trying to show me areas in my life where I may need to change. Lord, show me the root of my problems and my issues and how to get over them. Lord, help me face the truth on things that I need to work on today. Lord, I only want positive changes in my life so I ask You to give me an ear to hear everything You are trying to show me in my life. Yes, facing the truth and taking responsibility may be painful Lord, but I am ready, willing and open to the positive changes that You have for me in my life. Lord, I don’t want to live my life wandering in the wilderness, so I am going to be still, listen and be obedient toward the things that You are trying to fix and change in my life today.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Jonah 4:4 (New King James Version)
Then the LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
Mark 11:25 (Amplified Bible)
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your (own) failings and shortcomings and let them drop.”
John 20:23 (New Living Translation)
“If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Proverbs 4:23 (New Living Translation)
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Matthew 6:14-15 (New King James Version)
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” 15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Ephesians 4:32 (New King James Version)
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Do you ever find yourself saying, “Why me, God?” Do certain situations in your life always seem to trigger thoughts you don’t want or you cannot seem to get rid of?
Are you hurt today from a lifetime of suffering and pain from things you may have dealt with in your childhood and in your past? Are you living in a world of self-pity and un-forgiveness? If that is you today, God is willing and ready to help and help today so you can move forward in your life and fulfill the very plan that God has for you.
There are so many people that are hurting terribly and are crying out for help. But unfortunately, they are not willing to receive the help God has to offer. It is amazing how often we want things our way and in our time. When someone has hurt you, you may feel like they owe you something. You may feel like they need to live their life indebted to you. You may feel like just because you are hurting, they need to live their life hurting to. But, Jesus wants you to let all of that stuff go. He wants to help you, but realize and know today that you will only receive his help when you become willing to do things God’s way.
What does the toxic waste of un-forgiveness look like in our lives? For some people, it seeps out as anger. In other people, it comes out in the form of depression. For others, it reeks of low self-esteem. It can show up in many different ways, sometimes doing damage before we even realize it has re-appeared in our lives. The simple truth is that if we have bitterness on the inside, eventually it is going to end up contaminating everything that comes out of us. It will contaminate our personalities and our attitudes, as well as how we treat other people. Some of us rather then letting go of the hurt and pain we experience, we attempt to bury it deep down in our hearts. We attempt to cram un- forgiveness, resentment, anger and many other destructive responses to un- forgiveness into us. But at some point the very things you have buried so very deep in your heart will again rise to the surface. We simply cannot live with the poison inside of us and not expect it do eventually do us harm – possibly mentally, definitely emotionally and sometimes even physically (sickness and possibly harm to ourselves as well as others).
One of the greatest deceptions that the devil has brought about is in the area of forgiveness. One of his ideas that he has deceived us of is that if your feelings have not changed, you have not truly forgiven. Say, you have decided to forgive someone who has harmed you, but then the devil convinces you that because you still have the same feelings, you have not really forgiven a particular person in a specific situation. You can make the decision to forgive and not feel any differently. This is the exact time where your faith is needed to carry you through. You have done your part and now you are waiting on God. You are waiting on his part that is there to heal your emotions and to make you feel well and whole. Only God has the power to change your feelings toward the person who may have hurt you.
If you are harboring anger and hurt today, ask yourself why. If you are always negative about yourself, about others or about life in general – ask yourself why as well. Have you not forgiven someone or even yourself in a situation? Forgiveness is critical to having a happy and peaceful life. Forgive the people who have hurt you. Forgive the boss who did you wrong. Forgive the friend who betrayed you. Forgive the parent who mistreated you when you were younger. Don’t simply let the root of bitterness, anger and un-forgiveness grow deeper and continue to contaminate your life. When you begin the forgiveness process, God will step in and help you finish it.
You need to forgive so you can be free, out of bondage and happy. When we forgive, we are not doing it just for the other person; we doing it for our own good. When we hold on to un- forgiveness and live with grudges in our hearts, all we are doing is building walls of separation. We think we are protecting ourselves, but we are really not. We are simply shutting other people out of our lives. We become isolated, alone, and can sometimes become imprisoned by our own bitterness. Those walls don’t merely keep people out; those walls keep us penned in. That is why it is so very important to forgive those who have hurt us. Search your heart and make the decision to forgive today and get ready to experience genuine physical, mental and emotional healing. You will be truly amazed at what can happen when you release forgiveness in your life! So, release everything to the Lord today and let it all go!
A Prayer for Today
Lord, help me to forgive all those who have hurt me today. Lord, I no longer want to live in the land of un- forgiveness, but I want to live a fulfilling and blessed life, so Lord I ask You to help me up and out of the state I am in. Yes, my feelings may not have changed about a specific person or a specific situation, but Lord I know that if I take first step of the forgiveness process that You will help to heal my hurting emotions and help me change the feelings I may have toward that person or that situation. So again Lord, help me to forgive all who have hurt me. I want to move forward in my life and achieve great things, but I know that if I am angry and holding on to the hurts and pains of the past I cannot do so. Lord, I thank You for keeping me through my discouraging situations and through my pains. For I know with You by my side, I am ready to let it all go so I can experience the abundant and blessed filled life You have for me. So I Thank You Lord for always being there for me, through my good times and my bad times, through my sad times and through my disappointments. Lord, I am ready, and willing to begin my path of forgiveness today!
In Jesus Name, Amen.
LOVE MAN…TRUST GOD
John 2:23-25 (New Living Translation)
23 “Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.”
24 “But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature.”
25 “No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (New King James Version)
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.
8 “For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
Romans 12:2 (New International Version)
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Psalm 31:14 (New King James Version)
But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
Jesus loved people, especially His disciples. He had great fellowship with them, traveled with them, ate with them, and taught them. But he didn’t put His trust in them, because he knew human nature. This doesn’t mean He had no trust in His relationship with them; He just didn’t open Himself to them in the same way that He trusted in and opened up to His heavenly Father. That is the way you should be.
Many times people form close relationships/friendship with other people. Just as Jesus did, they have great fellowship with them; they spend time with them, have fun with them and talk with them. Then when times get tough or when they really need someone to talk to or be there for them, they depend on their friends to be there for them instead of looking to God. But you don’t want to do that. Simply because, even in the best relationships, people will disappoint you because people are not perfect. There are no perfect people, but we serve a perfect God. For example, you may be going through a hard time in your life and instead of looking to God to help you through it, you depend on man to help solve your problems only to find that man is no where to be found or man disappoints you with what they may say to you or there solution to your problem or how it may seem like they don’t even care what your issue is. Yes, it is right to love and respect others, but always remember that only God can be counted on to never fail you and to give you all the right solutions!
God’s will for you is transformation, which take place from the inside out… not conformation, which is someone’s external, superficial idea of what you should be; nor your own efforts to conform to their ideas, expectations, and demands. When people form close relationships with other people, they sometimes get caught up in trying to do the same thing as them. They feel like they should be a part of their plan. This is truly wonderful if God agrees with that. But, when God says no we must also learn to say no as well.
Trust is one of the most powerful facets of faith because it carries you through your problems. Faith asks for deliverance, but trust remains steadfast while we are in God’s waiting room. We all have trust, and we choose where we place that trust. Again if you place your trust only in others and likewise only in your own abilities and accomplishments, you are bound to be disappointed one day. All of these things, especially people are subject to change. But God never, never changes and he certainly never fails. So plant your trust in Him and be like the tree planted by the water (You shall not be moved) – rooted and grounded and yielding good fruit no matter what comes your way.
Determine today that yes, you will love your friends and cherish your relationships but that you will depend on God for everything. Don’t be conformed to the wishes of your friends and even your relatives, but Trust God for everything. Because you know that when man fails you, God will always be there and never fail you. When man turns his back on you, God is always there for you. When you depend on people for things and to help you through things and they don’t come though, know that you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Remember God will always be there. God will never leave nor forsake you and HE NEVER FAILS!
A Prayer for Today
Lord, I know that trusting You and trusting You only is such an important part of my Christian Walk. Yes, it is important to form and cultivate relationships but I must learn today to not put ALL my trust in people. Yes, there are people in my life that have my best interest at heart and they may love me, but there will be times when they too may disappoint me. So Lord, I know that is it key that I put all of my trust in You. Lord, I trust You to provide me with whatever I need and whenever I need it. Lord, I trust You to point me right when I want to go left. Lord, I trust You when I have problems, situations and issues in my life. Lord, I thank You for being the God that You are and Lord I thank You for never failing me and always being there for me through the ups and the downs in my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Dedicated to my lil sister @LadiJackee, my homey Shon @ltd7900 and my bestie Kels Green. Nuff said.
THERE IS A NEW SEASON COMING
Psalm 102:13 (New King James Version)
“You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come.”
Isaiah 61:1-2 (New King James Version)
1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”
2 “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,”
Isaiah 61:2 (New International Version)
“to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,”
Psalm 5:12 (New International Version)
“For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Psalm 30:5 (New King James Version)
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”
Proverbs 8:35 (New King James Version)
“For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD;
Psalm 102:13 talks about a “set time” for favor. God has seasons in which supernatural doors will open, seasons in which you will accomplish things you never thought possible, seasons in which great things will begin to happen. Christian Soldier, there is a new seasons coming for you today – a set time for God’s favor in your life!
Jesus said in Isaiah 61:1-2 (NKJV), “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me to help the poor, to comfort the hurting, and to announce the acceptable year of the Lord.” One translation says, “To declare the year of God’s favor.” And at the time He made this declaration, the people had experienced years of famine, fighting, and judgment. But God was saying, “Be encouraged! This is your season of favor.” He announced it to the people just like He tells you today. But unfortunately, not everyone was able to receive it God’s favor. Some people thought, “Oh, I’ve been through too much. I’ll never get well. I’ll never get out of debt. I’ll never accomplish my dreams.” And You know what happened? They missed their season of favor. They missed their blessing. Their unbelief caused them to miss the breakthrough God had in store.
Don’t let that be you! Boldly declare and believe today that it is your time for supernatural favor, blessing, and deliverance. There is a new season coming for you. You may have lost your job, your mortgage is in risk of foreclosure, be in tremendous debt, your relationships – especially your marriage are struggling, or you or a loved one needs healing. Be encouraged – DON’T GIVE UP! All your hurts, all your pains, all your trials and all your situations are about to be relieved and released. You are about to enter into an anointing of ease and happiness. You may have had disappointments in the past, but don’t give up now! You are much to close to your blessing! You are much to close to your miracle! God is turning things around in your favor, RIGHT NOW! If you’ll keep believing, keep standing, and keep hoping; it won’t be long before you enter the new season God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Lord, I thank You that I have Your favor, and that You are going to make a way for me when it appears that there is no way! I thank You for the new seasons that are soon to come in my life. I Thank You for Your favor! Your favor is opening doors of opportunity and bringing success into my life. Your favor is causing people to want to help me and will cause me to be at the right place at the right time. So, Lord just like the changing of seasons from fall to winter and new year that is soon to come – I thank You and Praise You in advance for the new season of favor, blessings and deliverance in my life. Lord, I will go out in confidence each day declaring Your favor, expecting great things to happen and expecting doors to open in my life. Lord, I know there is something special about me today – I have the Favor of God in my life. Thank You Lord for the new season of blessings I am getting ready to walk into to!
In Jesus name, Amen
Romans 12:21 (New King James Version)
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (New Living Translation)
“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”
Luke 6:27-28 (NKJV)
27 “But I say to you who hear; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
28 “bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”
Mark 11:25-26 (NKJV)
25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses”
26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)
32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
In 2 Samuel 16:5-14, there is a story about King David, who was walking down the street when a young man named Shimei started making fun of him, cursing at him, calling him names and even throwing rocks at him. Shimei followed him everywhere that he went, just getting on his nerves, bothering and pestering him; wanting to pick a fight and trying to aggravate him. Finally, a man named Abishai who was with David basically said, “Do you want us to put a stop to him? Do you want us to shut him up? (“Please, let me go over and take off his head – 2 Samuel 16:9) He is a real pain.” But David answered him, different than most of us would, but definitely how we should when someone is trying to hurt us and is an enemy to us. He said, “No, let him keep talking. Maybe God will hear him and bless me for it.” (See 2 Samuel 16:12).
When somebody is talking about us, instead of getting upset and trying to defend ourselves, we need to have the same attitude as David and believe God will hear what they’re saying and bless us for it. Jesus was quite clear about what we are to do to those who hurt us; “But I tell you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”. (Matthew 5:44). Jesus also said in Luke 6:35, “Love your enemies, and do good and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great.”
Ask God to show mercy, not judgment, to your abusers; to your enemies. Remember, if you sow mercy, you will reap mercy (Galatians 6:7). Praying for those who have wronged you can also bring them to a place of repentance and a true realization of the harm they are causing others. Without such prayer, they may remain the same way they are and not change. Blessing and not cursing your enemies is a very important part of the process of forgiveness. If you are willing to bless and pray for your enemies, you will be living the Godly principle in Romans 12:21: “Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
When you are dealing with your enemies say, “God, bless my enemies, those people that criticize, talk about me, and try to make me look bad. God, give them a great day today.” When you do that, the more they talk, the higher you’re going to go. Think about it; it had not been for some of them, you may not be where you are today. Meaning their negative talk and criticism tried to bring you down, but God used it to push you to higher heights!
Maybe it is at the office; somebody is trying to make you look bad, talking behind your back, spreading rumors, saying you don’t do anything and you don’t know anything and they can’t quite understand why and how you got in the position you are in. It is at that very time when it is tempting to be critical back and think, “Two can play this game. They said this about me. Well, let me tell you what I know about them.” No, it is so important that you don’t sink down to their level. Don’t let their poison cloud your heart. Learn to bless your enemies. Pray for them and continue to be nice to them. Know that what they mean for your harm, God is going to use to for your good and use to promote you. When you know that God is your vindicator and rewards you when you don’t take matters into your own hands; that takes all the pressure off. You don’t have to try to pay people back and get involved in battles that don’t really matter and set the record straight. Let God fight your battles for you. If you will stay on the high road, God will take what others mean for harm, and He will use it to your advantage.
Remember; don’t become weary in doing good. At the proper time, you’ll reap a harvest if you don’t give up.(Galatians 6:9). That means, keep doing good to others whenever you’re persecuted. Keep doing the right thing, even when the wrong thing is happening. Keep a good attitude. Keep praying for those who keep talking about you. And like Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We are to be merciful and forgiving, just as God in Christ forgives us our wrongdoing – even when we don’t understand why we do what we do or why our enemies do what they do. Before long, you’ll see God’s blessings in greater ways, and what might have seemed like a stumbling block to you, God will use as stepping stone to thrust you higher.
When you can bless your enemies and do good to those who have hurt, used and abused you, that is when God will take that evil and turn it around for good. Remember that God is in control. And when you bless your enemies, you will never lose. God will always make it up to you. When we learn to bless our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, we keep our heart free from strife and give God more room to bless us, promote us, and speak to us more. So like Romans 12:21(NKJV) states, “”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
A Prayer for Today
Lord, Thank you for Your forgiving spirit today. Thank You for Godly principles that state that I should love my enemies and bless those that curse me. So, I say Lord Bless my enemies today. Because I know Lord, that the more they persecute, curse and hurt me the more that You are going to use that for my good. Lord, I know the more they talk, the more You will promote me and the more they talk, the higher I will go. Lord, I know that You will use what they mean for evil, for my good. So, I say Thank You Lord for allowing me to love and forgive all who are out to hurt me or bring me down. Lord, I want to experience all of Your blessings, so I know that I cannot expect to treat poorly and expect to be blessed. So Lord, I will keep my enemies in prayer always because I know the more I pray for my enemies, be friendly to my enemies and love my enemies, the more I open the pathway to all the blessings You have in store for my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Matthew 7:1-2 (New Living Translation)
Do Not Judge Others
1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.
2 “For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged”
Matthew 7:1-5 (The Message)
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.”
Luke 6:37 (New King James Version)
Do Not Judge
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Galatians 2:6 (New International Version)
“As for those who seemed to be important—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance—those men added nothing to my message.”
People today are so quick to judge others by their outside appearance and quick to find fault. If somebody is not just like them, if they’re just a little bit different, instead of giving them the benefit of the doubt, they look them up and down and start to pick them apart thinking thoughts like “Well, I would never dress like that.” Or “Well, they think they are so cute!” “I would never drive that car.” “Well, if I were them, I wouldn’t have taken a vacation in this economy.” “If I were them, I wouldn’t send my kids to that school.” “If I were them, I wouldn’t wear that much jewelry.” But here’s the thing, you are not them. You don’t really know what you would do because you have not walked in their shoes. You don’t know their situation and what they do and they don’t have. Don’t judge others because you don’t know what they have been through. You don’t know the life they’ve lived and the obstacles they’ve faced. They might have a thousand tattoos covering them or wear jewelry from head to toe or they might not dress the way you would like them to or they may even dress really nice, wearing something different every day so you assume they think they are better than you (not knowing that they struggled and struggled many years prior and didn’t have but 2 suits to wear for a number of years); but whatever it may be it does not give you a right to judge them. And that is simply because you have never lived their situation.
When you’re tempted to be critical and find fault in others, remember the enemy is called the accuser of our brethren (Revelations 12:10). Recognize where the source is coming from. He is the one that wants you to be critical. But know that you should not go that route because you have no right to judge nor be critical of anyone. You need to stay on the Lord’s side and believe the best in others. Know that no one is perfect and that we all have faults of our own, so again be mindful to not judge anyone. There may be a thousand things that you can see that may be wrong with a particular person, but you need to look and look until you find at least one thing that is right. You have been forgiven much, so you need to love that much more. Don’t walk down the road of judgment, but walk down the road of mercy today. After all, where would we all be without the mercy of God? Don’t be condemning and don’t be a faultfinder.
How somebody spends their money, where they go on vacation, how they raise their children, or what kind of car they drive, we must learn that is none of our business. We all have a hard enough time trying to run our own lives without trying to run somebody else’s life! So, one of the best ways that we can keep a pure heart free from judgment is to learn to mind our own business. If somebody takes four vacations a year, that is none of your business. If they drive around town in a limousine, drive around in a big fancy car or even come to church in a boat that is none of your business. If they wear a fur coat, have beautiful jewelry on every day and always have their hair perfectly done, again that is none of your business. Even if they wear rings on every finger and every toe, and their hair is purple that is none of your business.
So, be careful not to fall in this trap of being judgmental of others. It will rob you of your joy and peace and allow the enemy to have a foothold in your life. Comparison, jealousy and strife have room to enter whenever we entertain these thoughts. There are too many other things in life that need our focus, and we all need to use all the focus we have on what God has called us to do. So, decide to live judgment free in your life. If you do, you will not only live with more peace, but God will bless you, and your relationships will be blessed because the Bible says that in the same measure we judge, we too will be judged.
A Prayer for Today
Lord, I am not going to live my life full of judgment. I have so many, many faults of my own and so many things that I need to work on in my life to even think about being judgmental of anyone. So Lord, I ask You to help me to be judgment free today. I don’t know what people are going through or have gone through and I have not walked in their shoes, so I have not right judging them by the way they look, walk or talk today. Lord, I need to focus my time on what it is that You have me to do in my life, so Lord help me to walk down my own road and not but judgmental or critical of others. The Bible says that in the same measure we judge, we too will be judged so I will love everyone and look for the best in everyone today. I know that when I do, I will not only leave a peace-filled life, but be blessed by You.
In Jesus Name, Amen
