Purpose was designed to Perfect

Before moving forward, I want to emphasize the fact that your gifts are God-given for the execution of God’s purpose. So yes, before your gift becomes a vehicle connecting you to purpose, it belongs to the Lord. This is clearly shown in James 1:17 where it says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” The gift bestowed upon you is used for the edification of the body of Christ and although we may change our minds, the Lord is resolved. At some point we have to come to grips with accepting the fact that we are who we are. Not from an excusatory standpoint to remain the same, but to know your role and walk worthy of it. So if the Lord has called you to be a thumb, it behooves you to grasp and grapple to the best of your ability for the betterment of the body. Like the parable of the talents, carrying out your task not only blesses the body and yourself on earth (spiritually/naturally), but it also blesses you with the ultimate reward—heaven.

Purpose, the reason something exists for an intended or desired result, fuels our ambitions. The hopeful career after graduating college; building a family after landing your dream job; traveling and so on. Our purpose, the very reason that we’re created is to bring pleasure to the Lord our God (Revelation 4:11). Pleasure is directly tied to an individual’s will; preference; desire or choice. So it is not a light thing to know that Jesus CHOSE us, when we didn’t CHOOSE him initially. For it was clearly a desire of his to reconcile us back to him after the fall of man. I was just sharing with someone today, that once you make a commitment to anyone or anything, you can expect a challenge, and being a Christian is no different. As you make the decision to live and die for Jesus, the pressures of life will come in like a flood, however, we know God will hold up a standard. It is imperative that we keep heaven on our mind. In doing so, we will always strive to be better—no matter how many times we fall. I’ve made a declaration that I’m not arguing with people to where it conceives anger anymore. Of course, I’ve come short in some cases, but I always find another method of prevention. Pretty soon, I’ll be able to identify all of the signs in advance and respond accordingly. And that goes for every aspect of life.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” If you believed then believe! If you believed God could save you by water baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost, do you believe that your finances can be better? How about your attitude? Can the impossible be obtained? Here’s a little insight, the more time you spend with the God, the more you’ll think like him. In fact, his desires will become your desires because you’d take on his personality. That’s why the Bible says in Psalms 37:4, “delight thyself in the Lord and he’ll give you the desires of your heart.” He’s not going  to bless wicked desires; he’s not going to bless your vain glory, but he will bless your desire to fulfill the will of the Father. The transmission of desire by way of influence from one person to the next is one of the greatest dynamics in any relationship.  You know the saying, birds of feather flock together...

 

A Letter to the People: The Revolution is Within Us

 

 

“There’s a war going on outside no man is safe from” are the words chanted by the contemporary poet Prodigy from the “infamous” Mobb Deep rap group in the mid 1990’s. Although it’s been 20 plus years since these lyrics were released into the world, he couldn’t have been more right. Considering the tumultuous social climate where the law abiding and the lawless clash like 2 rams, friction will consequentially spark death. And yes, we are all privy to the political battle royal taking place right before our eyes leaving the protected and served lost in the crevices where we clash like 2 rams—-and you know the rest. As a result, internationally and domestically, the people are hungry for a revolution. Uprisings have sprung up to become the resistant against the powers that be; to put an end to the ideals of the authority and ultimately bring about change.

 

I continue to hear, “There’s a war going on outside no man is safe from.” There are 2 components present in every revolution: the oppressed and the oppressor. However, before the vehicle used to accelerate the revolution is put into ignition, the oppressed has to not only recognize its oppressor, but have a resolved mind to relinquish their designated office as the oppressed. This is where the war begins. Now, although there’s a revolutionary presence stretching from sea to sea and has crossed technological borders such as social media, we cannot be ignorant to the manner in which war operates; for war is made up of many battles: whether it was the Revolutionary War from April 1774 to September 1783; the Civil War from April 1861 to May 1865, and even the War in Afghanistan from October 2001 to December 2014. Each of these wars lasted at least 4 years. Like our ancestors, we have to distinguish the difference between wars and battles. Is the fight against racism a war or a battle? Drug addiction, domestic violence, and pedophilia—-are these wars or battles?

The people are crying out to the heavens for the need of a revolution—-well, we’re already in the midst of one. In fact, the true revolution started sometime in A.D 33 when Jesus Christ died and resurrected himself for the salvation of men. In Latin, the word “revolution” means to turn around or make a significant change; which is synonymous with repentance. The real revolution in other words, true change, starts in the heart. So you literally have to attack the sinful root in order for the branches of racism, domestic violence and any other branches to die. So what or who are we in war with?

In the book of Galatians, Paul says “the flesh wars against the [Holy] Spirit.” The very sinful nature in which we were born in, desires to do all that is contrary to the Word of God. And then we have an adversary who’s like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour; you know, “steal, kill, and destroy.” In our defense, the Bible says that the “weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,” (1 Corinthians 10:4). A weapon is a means of gaining an advantage or defending oneself in a conflict or contest. The greatest weapon we could be armed with is having the power of God in us; the Holy Spirit—-Jesus! Psychology will not work. There’s no way a people can be changed without a person being changed. The revolutions starts at home—internally.

 

Until next time, please remember that you cannot have a revolution without a resolution. The decision is yours.

Identify your identity: Who are you?

Ralph Ellison said, “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” Maya Angelou said, “I am a phenomenal woman.” Last but not least, God said, “I am the great I Am; the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end.” I used these great quotes to emphasize one thing and one thing only: identity. When I examine my life along with the world in which I live, oftentimes I have to ask myself, “Who are you? Why are you doing this? What are your motives?” I pose these questions religiously as a reality check. If you don’t like your job, why haven’t you found a new one or started a business yet? If you’re passionate for this, then why aren’t you practicing? These questions are used as a guide—a tool to determine whether or not me, being a Man of God, is even lining up let alone pleasing Jesus the Most High.

 

The bible says that “the Lord has avouched you or acknowledged you as His own to be a peculiar people. To make you high above all nations, in praise, name and honor,” (Deuteronomy 26:18-19). This text assures me that not only do I have purpose but I’m special, and me being special has everything to do with my association with God.  In 1 Peter 2:9, it says that I am a part of “a holy generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Again, I’m so special that I was hand selected out of the crowd; I’ve been sanctified and anointed for my name’s sake. No, but for the Lord’s.

Like the priest in the Old Testament who were responsible for conducting all of the sacrificial rituals on behalf of the people and themselves, we too, have much responsibility. Once you know who you are in God, then, you have to conduct yourself as such. In 1 Peter 2:9, it basically says we’re special and held at a higher standard to exhibit praise. This praise isn’t in song and dance but behavior; our response and even our thoughts—moral excellence. Why? Because like the priest of old who were closest to God, the people who know not their identity will beseech you to intercede on their behalf because they recognize your relationship with the Father. Guess what? Then those who were not a people which had not obtained mercy will obtain mercy and become a people—glorifying God at His coming.

This is definitely one of my shorter passages but I’d like to end on this note: I tend to think about the movie “300” when I examine whether or not I be in the faith. And I remember a scene where the Spartans meet up with some other Greeks, and when asked what were their professions, the Spartans chanted “Roo! Roo! Roo!” Because, before anything they were Spartans. I can only hope that I can I respond with “Holy! Holy! Holy!” Because, before anything I am a Man of God.

I Just Want To Be Saved

Home is where…you make it

I don’t want to go home
For I have grown accustomed to the sound of the fowls who’s call stretches for miles
And though I can’t distinguish one from the other, their translation is never lost—the message delivers as intended with what seems to be expedited shipping
It makes me wonder…
How do our signals cross? How do we misinterpret so much?
When birds of a feather interchange data amid flocks of a different fold from one neighborhood block to everlasting—without cellular devices
Yet our words can’t reach its destination? Making it difficult to connect
Face to face we encounter such an insurmountable hurdle
So no, I don’t want to go home
I’ve become too familiar with the taste of the lakes.
These soul soothers convert my tumultuous thoughts into smooth sailing.
Even when the Northern Wind blows during the coolness of the day, contrary to popular belief, the waves never bring confusion.
The waves may bring in a lot of things, but never confusion.
Brush against me like the waves do the shores or the wall beneath the boardwalk
Brush against me with a refreshing; with a newness gathered from today’s tide which never disappoints
And If I stare at your ripples long enough, I and everything without will succumb to your trance and begin to levitate
I would be dizzy if I hovered any faster, but I don’t because I’m not
I just float—hoping that my blinking will not interrupt; hoping that my thinking will not corrupt or disrupt as I just float
I don’t need to go home because I am home (To be continued).

Speak a song

This is life to me

The keys that run down the staff with clear ambiguity

I can honestly say that I understand your unorthodox

So much so, that I recognize that you’re not comprised of just keys; not just horns or strings, but everything that’s right for me

You’re the smoothest off road; you’re my nightlight

The greatest story never told, because even with the endless supply of composers, there’s an inspiration that can’t be formulated into words

In other words, others may not know how well you compel, or how you put the art in articulate; or how deep you speak

Speak to me from your root; for the common can only scratch the surface

When you speak to me from the root, you offshoot the sweetest fruit

Can I just vibe with you?

And listen to a tune with manifold ears

Because I recognize that you’re not comprised of just keys; not just horns or strings, but everything that is anything

This is life to me

 

We the people

You don’t have to hear me to hear me; for my actions will speak louder than I ever could

You don’t have to see me to see me; for my results will supersede my imagination

You don’t even have to agree with me to support my makeup; for I need your opinions to confront my own in order to try its durability

How long can an individual stand on a stance that never had a chance?

However, if you never take a chance, a stance will never stand

As we continue to trail blaze our uniquely designed rite of passages, I’ve been fully persuaded that there’s nothing wrong with being wrong

Because only dead people stop learning

And I am as alive as a liberated soul

Taking in its first breath of fresh air as a free man with his back to captivity

I am alive

And being in such a condition, I realized that the world’s revolution begins with mine

The day I listen to my convictions and become familiar with my stance

A discussion needs to be had

Once the need is felt by the beholder, then we can produce a resolution; not for the world but for the people

For we the people are superior to; as the world is a byproduct of

Contrary to the world’s belief, your problem just so happen to be mine

And though I want more for you, I can’t want it more than you

And yes, though my problem is also yours I can not implore you to take on a burden that I’m reluctant to face

Keep your eyes on the prize!

For the world has to see the people before it can cheat the people

But we the people will not leave the people

Believe the people when we say:

You don’t have to hear me to hear me; you don’t have to see me to see me

Moment of Silence (the mixtape)

https://m.soundcloud.com/fervent-spirit/sets/moment-of-silence

Mirror Mirror

QuitQuitting

The day I quit quitting will be the day that I finally make a decision
Decision derives from decide, and if defined in the Latin tongue, it means to cut off every other option
The day I quit quitting, I will be able to make the distinction between failure and lesson; recognize the synergy between falling and getting up; crawling isn’t given up when crossing the finish line, whether on your feet or on your knees, means crossing the finish line
In other words, your accomplishments are not predicated on how you achieve them
Can you encourage yourself when motivation is on vacation?
Can you motivate yourself when encouragement has deserted you?
The day I quit quitting, I will no longer run from, but rather run to, run pass, run over, run through the obstructions in the metaphysical world where my reality begins
Joyce Meyers said it like this: You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind
So I took 2 verbs with a negative connotation and formed a positive conjunction: Either quitting quits or I quit quitting
And since quitting is still in business I figured that I take the initiative and resign
I know this is 2 weeks short of a 2 week notice but here’s your pink slip!
Please don’t bore me with the poor business etiquette rhetoric, cuz if I remember correctly, it began with your unethical business practices intended to steal, kill, and destroy; where ill will was deployed like young men and boys
But no longer will I be lured in with cheap thrills to enjoy
Because you—you my friend are unemployed
No longer do I entertain your half truths like when you said “time was on our side”
Again, I say “half truths”
Because unfortunately for you—you are past due
Don’t worry about me!
You see, I understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and for whatever reason, it takes longer time to build a skyscraper than it does a measly hut
And for whatever reason you eat an elephant one bite a time
And this is how I plan to redeem mine(time that is)
John Bythewag said “yard by yard life is hard; inch my inch life is a cinch”
I will reach 12 inches before I my first 36; Therefore, my first 12 begins with my first
I Quit!