Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The Comforts of This World
The other night, Nakia and
I were talking about the Duggars from TLC’s “19 and Counting” and how they raise
their children. They don't allow their children to casually date but they do
allow them to court when they are of age. So after discussing the terms of the
courtship with their daughter and young “caller”, they all went on a double
date to play miniature golf. Some of the rules established were:
- No hand holding
- No two-armed hugs
- No alone time
- Every outing was supervised
- No kissing
While listening to Nakia
talk, I’m thinking, "how corny is that?" "who would want to be in
that situation?" But I quickly ate my thoughts when she asked me how would
we be when Ari started dating? I IMMEDIATELY began to see how awesome a plan
the Duggars had! Then I rebuked myself for my previous thoughts!
How easy it is for us to forget that we're supposed to be living HOLY and ACCEPTABLE lives into Christ! We've become so acclimated to our secular surroundings and culture, that the thought of keeping yourself pure (a virgin) until marriage is a joke or deemed uncool. Nobody is perfect, and no, I wasn't a virgin when I got married (not even close) but when I think about my wedding night, when it was just me and beautiful bride, all I could think about was that I wished I could've given her all of me. I wished she was my first. I wished that I had just waited on God!
It was a beautiful night but I had this lingering thought that I had the chance to make it perfect and I didn't. Whether it was listening to my older cousins and friends at school, or just being influenced by the media and things I had no business watching, I fell into the trap of trying to be down instead of standing my ground as a child of God.
God knows our beginning from our end. That's why he tells us to abstain from fornication (1 Thessalonians 4:3). When you find that one God made ONLY FOR YOU, you only want to be with them. You feel like they should’ve been the only one you were ever with. Just imagine how your life would be if you had just waited for your wife or husband? No baby daddies or baby mommas. No STDs, morning afters, abortions, clinics, worrying about being labeled a hoe (men and women), and most importantly, we'd be living according to the standard given to us by the Heavenly Father!
It will be my vow to ALL my children to help them remain virgins until marriage. As the old saying is true, "he'll keep you, if you wanna be kept". The only problem is we've been convinced that we don't wanna be kept.
How easy it is for us to forget that we're supposed to be living HOLY and ACCEPTABLE lives into Christ! We've become so acclimated to our secular surroundings and culture, that the thought of keeping yourself pure (a virgin) until marriage is a joke or deemed uncool. Nobody is perfect, and no, I wasn't a virgin when I got married (not even close) but when I think about my wedding night, when it was just me and beautiful bride, all I could think about was that I wished I could've given her all of me. I wished she was my first. I wished that I had just waited on God!
It was a beautiful night but I had this lingering thought that I had the chance to make it perfect and I didn't. Whether it was listening to my older cousins and friends at school, or just being influenced by the media and things I had no business watching, I fell into the trap of trying to be down instead of standing my ground as a child of God.
God knows our beginning from our end. That's why he tells us to abstain from fornication (1 Thessalonians 4:3). When you find that one God made ONLY FOR YOU, you only want to be with them. You feel like they should’ve been the only one you were ever with. Just imagine how your life would be if you had just waited for your wife or husband? No baby daddies or baby mommas. No STDs, morning afters, abortions, clinics, worrying about being labeled a hoe (men and women), and most importantly, we'd be living according to the standard given to us by the Heavenly Father!
It will be my vow to ALL my children to help them remain virgins until marriage. As the old saying is true, "he'll keep you, if you wanna be kept". The only problem is we've been convinced that we don't wanna be kept.
Friday, April 5, 2013
When you feel like you can't escape
I was talking with a coworker and she was telling me about how she felt like she "just needed a win". She was overwhelmed by the losses that's she's been experiencing over the last couple of months and she just needed something to feel good about. She needed a win! She told me that if her husband, who's away at sea, or her mother, who's busy working two jobs, was around she'd be able to at least deal with the situations better. But they're not around so she feels helpless and insecure and doesn't know how to cope. As I listened to her talk, I connected with what she'd been saying because I'd been in her shoes before. I know what it's like to have more bills than money or more problems than solutions. I've been down in the dumps on many a day but I always knew that I could go to God and he would fix whatever I was going through. I offered to pray with and for her about her situations... She didn't completely blow me off but she wasn't leaping at the chance to have a little talk with Jesus, either.
As I walked back to my desk, I began to think about something she said. "All my usual ways of escape aren't available so I don't know what to do." I was saddened at the fact that she felt hopeless in her circumstance. I so wanted to tell her more about Jesus but I didn't want to do too much and turn her off. Maybe, at a later time, I'll invite her to church or something but for now I'll just pray. But when in situations like these arise, what do you do? It's imperative that you know that you can go to God.
God is my refuge and strength. God will always provide a way of escape (1 Samuel 23:28) This lets us know that we can run to God anytime. Not only is he a place for us to run to for shelter from our storms, but while we're in Him, he gives us strength to recuperate from whatever damage has been done. He will always give us a way out or a way of escape because He loves us so much. He doesn't require much, just an open and willing heart. Family and friends are wonderful when they're around, but they're human. They go through life the same way we do and they may not always be available to help you. And sometimes people don't want to help you because they have their own problems to deal with, we all go through it. But I, you, we serve a God who is bigger than all of our problems. He's big enough, strong enough, and powerful enough to handle everything that we give him. But he WILL NOT do anything until you give it to him.
A lot of times, we say we're going to leave things in God's hands but in all actuality, we don't. We give some, not all. For whatever reason, a small part of us still holds on and tries to control the situation. But the old time saints used to testify that they know Him to be a "burden barer and a heavy load sharer". Not the fanciest words but they're powerful. When we come to the realization that we're never alone in this life and we learn that we can cast everything on him, we'll be able to withstand all life's trials and tests.
Isaiah 43:4-5 says, "Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you..." God's always got a plan for you. Even though the way is dark and dreary and you can't see your way out, know that he's already worked it out on your behalf, so there's no reason to to be afraid. What comfort is that to know that my life is truly in God's hands if I just allow it.
-SP
As I walked back to my desk, I began to think about something she said. "All my usual ways of escape aren't available so I don't know what to do." I was saddened at the fact that she felt hopeless in her circumstance. I so wanted to tell her more about Jesus but I didn't want to do too much and turn her off. Maybe, at a later time, I'll invite her to church or something but for now I'll just pray. But when in situations like these arise, what do you do? It's imperative that you know that you can go to God.
God is my refuge and strength. God will always provide a way of escape (1 Samuel 23:28) This lets us know that we can run to God anytime. Not only is he a place for us to run to for shelter from our storms, but while we're in Him, he gives us strength to recuperate from whatever damage has been done. He will always give us a way out or a way of escape because He loves us so much. He doesn't require much, just an open and willing heart. Family and friends are wonderful when they're around, but they're human. They go through life the same way we do and they may not always be available to help you. And sometimes people don't want to help you because they have their own problems to deal with, we all go through it. But I, you, we serve a God who is bigger than all of our problems. He's big enough, strong enough, and powerful enough to handle everything that we give him. But he WILL NOT do anything until you give it to him.
A lot of times, we say we're going to leave things in God's hands but in all actuality, we don't. We give some, not all. For whatever reason, a small part of us still holds on and tries to control the situation. But the old time saints used to testify that they know Him to be a "burden barer and a heavy load sharer". Not the fanciest words but they're powerful. When we come to the realization that we're never alone in this life and we learn that we can cast everything on him, we'll be able to withstand all life's trials and tests.
Isaiah 43:4-5 says, "Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you..." God's always got a plan for you. Even though the way is dark and dreary and you can't see your way out, know that he's already worked it out on your behalf, so there's no reason to to be afraid. What comfort is that to know that my life is truly in God's hands if I just allow it.
-SP
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Communication Error
Communication :
(Noun) The imparting or exchanging information or news.
To me communication is the most powerful tool we have.
Nothing works without it. It is the key element to everything. Relationships
rely heavily on communication and without it, they fail. As individuals, we get
caught up in our own situations and what’s going with ME, that we forget to communicate.
We start thinking that people, especially the ones we know well, should just
get it! This lands us in a dangerous trap I like to call the “Mind Reader”
mentality. It’s been a one-sided joke that women think men are mind readers. To
be honest, we men think women are mind readers as well. On several occasions I’ve been guilty
of thinking that my wife should “just know” how to be or what to do or what I
meant! This is very false. No matter how well someone knows you, they’ll never
be able to read your mind. People may have great insight as to how you may like
certain things, but it’s never a definite that anyone at any time knows exactly
what’s going on in your head.
Matthew 7
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
To get what we want, we need to ask. Nowhere in the Bible
does it say anything about things being given to people who only think.
Communication is an action word. It’s something that requires work. Of course
you’re not always going to have the zeal or energy to constantly explain things
to people but it’s definitely worth doing. It’s been my own experience and criticism that I
give people too much credit. There’s something in my head that makes me think
that people should automatically know how to be. I guess it comes from when I
was kid and how my parents always held me accountable and how, as an adult, I
always hold myself accountable for my actions. But everyone wasn’t raised in my
household so how can I assume they’re going to share the same beliefs or follow
the same path? Not only is it a self-centered action, it’s also unfair to whom
you do it. God knew things like this would happen. That’s why he told us in His
word to ask, seek, and knock. Nothing is given freely except salvation, and
even with that, you’ve got to make the first move.
Communicating isn’t easy. A lot of “stuff” comes with it.
And when you’re not used to being communicative, it’s a long hard road to
travel to get to that place where it comes naturally. But like I said before,
it’s worth it.
-SP
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
He Knows Us Best
This weekend, Team P and I took a trip to VA to celebrate my parents birthdays. God showed us much favor while we were there. On our drive down, we only had a quart of gas in our minivan. Those of you who know anything about automobiles (I know very little) know that you need at least 5 quarts in your car at all times. This could have been a catastrophe because the drive was 500 miles! At any given time our engine could have locked up and we would have been stuck on I95 somewhere praying for a miracle. But God saw fit to allow us to make it down there safely with no complications. My dad, who's a mechanic, among other things, was totally amazed that a minivan made it that many miles, with so little oil. Favor!
While we were down there, my cousin noticed that my engine was smoking! I immediately thought that my engine was messed up but it turned out to be one of my hoses leaking on to a pipe and that was making the smoke. I couldn't make out what it was that was leaking so I called my dad for help and he referred me to a local mechanic. The mechanic told me that my transmission was leaking fluid but he couldn't really do anything because they didn't have the equipment necessary to fix my problem. He told me my best bet was to go to the dealership to get it checked out because only they had exactly what I needed to fix my car.
I hope you see where I'm going with this...
Sometimes as Christians we get down. We get broken and we need fixing. But what do we do? We go to the local mechanic, our girlfriends and homies, only to get the wrong diagnosis and wind up in more trouble than what we started out with. We need to take all of our problems to the dealership aka Jesus Christ, the one who created us, who has all the knowledge and equipment to fix our problems. Instead of confiding in your best friend about your marital problems, you need to get on your knees and take it to the Father. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." You don't have to settle for second hand solutions and remedies for your problems. The one who created you and loves you more than anyone ever could, has all the answers. His desire is for you to take it to HIM and only HIM for he's a jealous god (Joshua 24:19)
After the dealership finished taking care of our leaky antifreeze hose, they noticed our check-engine light was on. They did a diagnosis and found out there was something wrong with the ER-valve and fixed that too. When we brought the van in the receptionist told us that our warranty might not cover the repairs because they saw similar cases and in every case people had to pay out of pocket. I told you God gave us favor right? We were TOTALLY COVERED for both repairs. All we had to do was pay a deductible which was nothing compared to what we could have paid.
When you go to God with your troubles, he doesn't just fix one but all! Your child might be sick so when you pray all you're thinking about is them getting better. You don't bring up the fact that you're late on rent, you have no money for food, and your phone just got cut off. But God knows all and he's equipped to take care of all. He's in the total-body healing business all you have to do is just take it to him. Won't cost you anything but some time in prayer. I think that's a fair trade, don't you?
-SP
While we were down there, my cousin noticed that my engine was smoking! I immediately thought that my engine was messed up but it turned out to be one of my hoses leaking on to a pipe and that was making the smoke. I couldn't make out what it was that was leaking so I called my dad for help and he referred me to a local mechanic. The mechanic told me that my transmission was leaking fluid but he couldn't really do anything because they didn't have the equipment necessary to fix my problem. He told me my best bet was to go to the dealership to get it checked out because only they had exactly what I needed to fix my car.
I hope you see where I'm going with this...
Sometimes as Christians we get down. We get broken and we need fixing. But what do we do? We go to the local mechanic, our girlfriends and homies, only to get the wrong diagnosis and wind up in more trouble than what we started out with. We need to take all of our problems to the dealership aka Jesus Christ, the one who created us, who has all the knowledge and equipment to fix our problems. Instead of confiding in your best friend about your marital problems, you need to get on your knees and take it to the Father. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." You don't have to settle for second hand solutions and remedies for your problems. The one who created you and loves you more than anyone ever could, has all the answers. His desire is for you to take it to HIM and only HIM for he's a jealous god (Joshua 24:19)
After the dealership finished taking care of our leaky antifreeze hose, they noticed our check-engine light was on. They did a diagnosis and found out there was something wrong with the ER-valve and fixed that too. When we brought the van in the receptionist told us that our warranty might not cover the repairs because they saw similar cases and in every case people had to pay out of pocket. I told you God gave us favor right? We were TOTALLY COVERED for both repairs. All we had to do was pay a deductible which was nothing compared to what we could have paid.
When you go to God with your troubles, he doesn't just fix one but all! Your child might be sick so when you pray all you're thinking about is them getting better. You don't bring up the fact that you're late on rent, you have no money for food, and your phone just got cut off. But God knows all and he's equipped to take care of all. He's in the total-body healing business all you have to do is just take it to him. Won't cost you anything but some time in prayer. I think that's a fair trade, don't you?
-SP
Sunday, February 10, 2013
I've Outgrown This
Yesterday, as I was cleaning out my sink after a haircut, my attention was grabbed by the smell of my youngest son's toothpaste. It wasn't anything fancy but it was the same type of toothpaste that I'd used when I was a kid. The smell brought back memories of my childhood and I was walking down memory lane for a minute. It was a good minute. It was so good that, for a split second, I thought, "maybe I should start using this again" I mean, I love the smell and it tastes like bubble gum, why not? I'll tell you why not. Had I started using this children's toothpaste on my adult teeth, they'd be in the worse shape in the history of teethdom (yeah I made that up)
There has to come a time in our lives where we come to the realization that we've just outgrown certain things. We cannot go through life repeating the same things over and over again because it'll cause us to become stagnant and unproductive. God is all about progression, "behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19 (KJV)) He's tire of the same ol' same ol'. How many times do we go to him in prayer asking for the same thing, the same deliverance, the same breakthrough? When do we get the fortitude to say, "the buck stops here" or "this far and no further!" God has given us everything we need to speak to a situation and make it change but are we using our tools?
Every New Years, people make resolutions to do or not to do a certain thing. For the past couple years, since I've been married, my resolution has been to lose weight and get back into shape. I'd start out ON FIRE! Eating right, doing a little exercise, I'd come out of the blocks looking like Sonic the Hedgehog. I'd get all cocky, like I was doing something big but then I'd began to slow down. I'd say to myself, "oh I'll just have a cheat here and there." But pretty soon, that cheat would turn into an everyday thing. Next thing I know, I'm right back in the same habit, doing the same thing, and feeling sorry for myself because I didn't accomplish what I'd set out to do. The same context applies to our walk with God. We sin, go to church, get some prayer, roll on the floor, get delivered, and we feel on top of the world because that burden of sin has be lifted. The next couple of days are good because you're talking to God on the regular, you're reading your word, and you are just determined to never go back to that place again. But as the days go by we get comfortable and cocky like we got this thing beat. So we skip a day of prayer because we're tired and whatever our issue was, we feel it's no longer that serious. The skipped day of prayer turns into a week and on top of that, we're not reading our bible. We think we've turned into this superhuman who no longer needs God because at that particular moment we're doing good. In all actuality, that's the time you need God most because that's going to be the time when that temptation is going to come and because you've decided to fly solo, you're going to go back to that same thing you just got delievered from! Whenever you feel like you no longer need God for ANYTHING, is when you need to get down on your knees and ask for forgiveness. "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." (Psalms 100:3) We are his creation, his design, who better than him to know what we need?
I've come to the point in my life where I know that I can not make it without God. Every struggle that I've overcome was because of him. I've also come to the realization that my walk with God is a day-to-day thing. I'm not living for tomorrow because I might not see it but my prayer is, "lord help me, this day". Just like how God's mercies are new every morning, so are satan's tricks. He's going to try to get you to do whatever it is that's keeping you bound. If gossiping is your vice, then he's going send phone calls your way that have the juiciest gossip. If cursing someone out when you're mad is your struggle then he's going to send someone to cut you off in traffic only to see that person at the grocery store later that day. Every day, in every way, the enemy is going to try to steal, kill and destroy you. that's why everyday, in every way we need to recognize how much we need the Lord. Without allowing God to have rule over our flesh, we listen to the gossip, we give the person who cut us off a good piece of our mind.
It's time to mature in God. No more same ol same ol, he's not that type of God. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)) If we're in him as much as we claim to be, then we have no choice but to realize that we've outgrown our sins of yesterday. Just like the new wine couldn't go into the old skins, our new self cannot go into our old life because if it does, like the old skins, we'll break.
-SP
There has to come a time in our lives where we come to the realization that we've just outgrown certain things. We cannot go through life repeating the same things over and over again because it'll cause us to become stagnant and unproductive. God is all about progression, "behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19 (KJV)) He's tire of the same ol' same ol'. How many times do we go to him in prayer asking for the same thing, the same deliverance, the same breakthrough? When do we get the fortitude to say, "the buck stops here" or "this far and no further!" God has given us everything we need to speak to a situation and make it change but are we using our tools?
Every New Years, people make resolutions to do or not to do a certain thing. For the past couple years, since I've been married, my resolution has been to lose weight and get back into shape. I'd start out ON FIRE! Eating right, doing a little exercise, I'd come out of the blocks looking like Sonic the Hedgehog. I'd get all cocky, like I was doing something big but then I'd began to slow down. I'd say to myself, "oh I'll just have a cheat here and there." But pretty soon, that cheat would turn into an everyday thing. Next thing I know, I'm right back in the same habit, doing the same thing, and feeling sorry for myself because I didn't accomplish what I'd set out to do. The same context applies to our walk with God. We sin, go to church, get some prayer, roll on the floor, get delivered, and we feel on top of the world because that burden of sin has be lifted. The next couple of days are good because you're talking to God on the regular, you're reading your word, and you are just determined to never go back to that place again. But as the days go by we get comfortable and cocky like we got this thing beat. So we skip a day of prayer because we're tired and whatever our issue was, we feel it's no longer that serious. The skipped day of prayer turns into a week and on top of that, we're not reading our bible. We think we've turned into this superhuman who no longer needs God because at that particular moment we're doing good. In all actuality, that's the time you need God most because that's going to be the time when that temptation is going to come and because you've decided to fly solo, you're going to go back to that same thing you just got delievered from! Whenever you feel like you no longer need God for ANYTHING, is when you need to get down on your knees and ask for forgiveness. "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." (Psalms 100:3) We are his creation, his design, who better than him to know what we need?
I've come to the point in my life where I know that I can not make it without God. Every struggle that I've overcome was because of him. I've also come to the realization that my walk with God is a day-to-day thing. I'm not living for tomorrow because I might not see it but my prayer is, "lord help me, this day". Just like how God's mercies are new every morning, so are satan's tricks. He's going to try to get you to do whatever it is that's keeping you bound. If gossiping is your vice, then he's going send phone calls your way that have the juiciest gossip. If cursing someone out when you're mad is your struggle then he's going to send someone to cut you off in traffic only to see that person at the grocery store later that day. Every day, in every way, the enemy is going to try to steal, kill and destroy you. that's why everyday, in every way we need to recognize how much we need the Lord. Without allowing God to have rule over our flesh, we listen to the gossip, we give the person who cut us off a good piece of our mind.
It's time to mature in God. No more same ol same ol, he's not that type of God. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)) If we're in him as much as we claim to be, then we have no choice but to realize that we've outgrown our sins of yesterday. Just like the new wine couldn't go into the old skins, our new self cannot go into our old life because if it does, like the old skins, we'll break.
-SP
Thursday, February 7, 2013
What To Do with an Open Door
I shared that with you to say, we as people of God need to always be prepared for our blessings. Yes God can move and work on your behalf but when it comes time to receive the blessing are you in in place? Are you prepared? ARE YOU REALLY READY? My church's theme for this year is "The Year of Opportunity" and it's based on Revelation 3:8 which says, "I know they works: behold, I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it..." God knows your labor, he sees all that you go through. He knows how much you sacrifice and he knows your heartache. It's in his will to bless you with your heart's desire, but are you in a place to where you can handle it? On a funny level I prayed and asked God to allow me to get the shoes, not thinking that it would really happen. So when it did happen, I wasn't really prepared for it and I wasted my opportunity. Of course it's a funny situation because it's about some sneakers but we as people of God do it all the time. We ask God for a financial blessing, but we don't pay our tithes. We ask God for a job but we wake up at noon to look for one or if someone says, "McDonald's is hiring" we get offended like McDonald's don't pay in U.S. currency and it's beneath you to work there. Last time I checked money is money and it's never been beneath me to make money. To take it a step further, we ask God for a mate but walk out the house looking like the ANTI-MATE (lol). If you ask God for it, you need to be walking like you already have it. You think Gabrielle Douglas just made up those Gold-winning routines when she got to London? No, she had her routine AND her gold-medal acceptance speech ready in 2011!
We also have to get out of this mindset that someone owes us something. NOBODY OWES YOU ANYTHING! I'm not sure if I'm the first to tell you, but if I am, I'm sorry you had to find out this way. If you are not in your place, then someone is going to take it. No one is going to hold your space and there is no ditching! I really learned that the hard way last night because I didn't make the most of my opportunity and got kicked me off the site. Now someone else is wearing the shoes I was supposed to have. My pastor, Dr. Robert C. Jiggetts Jr., is a firm believer that "One monkey don't stop the show" If they call you to preach and you're not there, someone else will preach. If you're not there to usher, someone else will USH (lol). God has given gifts to everyone but it's up to us to use them. God also gives us many opportunities, but it's up to us to be in our right place to make the best of the situation. God will use anyone to get His glory, just like Nike/Jordan Brand will use anyone to buy their shoes! Don't squander your opportunity because of lack of preparedness.
I'm going to leave you with an equation and I hope that you'll take it to heart
Don't just wait for the door to open, be prepared to walk through it!
-SP
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