In this life as men and women we will have trials and tribulations. No one knows your struggles or path taken like you. People see you but don't really know what you had to endure or overcome to get to where you are now or going to be soon. In order to attain any measure of success a person must first pay dues through hard work, determination, failure, setbacks, among other adversity.
In today's society we often see people who are successful be it financial, influential, or both and tend to assume that individual had it easy. Little do you realize the dues he or she had to pay before getting there.
Sometimes the individual making a lucrative income, knew how it felt to be broke and unemployed.
Sometimes the individual who is a powerful speaker and influential, knew how it felt to be voiceless and irrelevant.
Sometimes the individual in a loving relationship, knew how it felt to be brokenhearted, mistreated, and alone.
Sometimes the individual who lives life to the fullest no matter the circumstances, knew how it felt to be on the brink of depression and death.
A saying that I have heard different preachers say over the years is "You see my glory, but don't know my story." That statement speaks volumes and I can relate to it in my own life.
The bible says in James 1:12, " Blessed is the one perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
Poetic Thought:
Life is the canvass and you are Picasso,
Embrace your truth and lies let go,
Take all of life's lemons and turn them into lemonade,
Study to show yourself approve, make the grade,
The soundtrack of your life should be inspirational not down and out blues,
In order to receive the blessings, everyone will be paying dues! ~ JD
There is a song by R&B artist Anthony Hamilton that I like called "Point of it all". In the song he is professing his love to a woman. He is essentially saying that everything that is shared, experience between them comes back to the point that he loves her.
In the same case but different perspective, God is like that with us. Everything he allows us to go through before receiving the promise, the blessing, he says the point of it all my son, my daughter is I love you! Paying dues is not like paying taxes because no one is EXEMPT! Until next time, class dismiss!!!
Monday, January 27, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
The DREAM
Yesterday was January 20th, the holiday observed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. An extraordinary man that gave of himself to impact change in the United States and the world as a whole.
Growing up we all learned in school, and old tv footage about his impact on the civil rights movement of the sixties. He was a man that faced enormous racism, death threats, and hatred for standing up for equality of African-Americans, the poor, and all disenfranchised people alike.
Fast forward to present day 2014 and even though a lot of progress has been made, we still have a long way to go. There are many examples to back up this sentiment I express. The widening gap between the wealthy and the poor almost eliminating the middle class, senseless violence & injustice against minorities especially young black males, domestic violence, embezzlement by CEO's, sex trafficking of minors, among numerous other things.
I believe if he were alive today he would be amazed by the technology advancements we've made but disappointed by the moral decay that has happen and continues to increase.
One thing for certain the dream is still a work in progress, because we have not arrived as African-Americans and people of all races as a whole. There is a room we all share regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, religious belief and that is a room for improvement.
The bible says in Joel 2:28, " And afterward, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."
Poetic Thought:
The future is ahead, the past is behind,
Life teaches you lessons, go forward don't rewind,
Love seems lost, replaced with lust false affection,
Credibility stands with integrity, lies run with deception,
The wise invest in people rather than things,
Seek the Lord, believe in yourself, to carry on the MLK dream! ~ JD
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a vessel that God used to influence and impact social change for the United States of America and the world. It is up to continue that legacy through our purpose in this life. We must instill the values in our children because every generation must pass the baton to the next in order for life to be better for all people. Until next time, class dismiss!!!
Growing up we all learned in school, and old tv footage about his impact on the civil rights movement of the sixties. He was a man that faced enormous racism, death threats, and hatred for standing up for equality of African-Americans, the poor, and all disenfranchised people alike.
Fast forward to present day 2014 and even though a lot of progress has been made, we still have a long way to go. There are many examples to back up this sentiment I express. The widening gap between the wealthy and the poor almost eliminating the middle class, senseless violence & injustice against minorities especially young black males, domestic violence, embezzlement by CEO's, sex trafficking of minors, among numerous other things.
I believe if he were alive today he would be amazed by the technology advancements we've made but disappointed by the moral decay that has happen and continues to increase.
One thing for certain the dream is still a work in progress, because we have not arrived as African-Americans and people of all races as a whole. There is a room we all share regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, religious belief and that is a room for improvement.
The bible says in Joel 2:28, " And afterward, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."
Poetic Thought:
The future is ahead, the past is behind,
Life teaches you lessons, go forward don't rewind,
Love seems lost, replaced with lust false affection,
Credibility stands with integrity, lies run with deception,
The wise invest in people rather than things,
Seek the Lord, believe in yourself, to carry on the MLK dream! ~ JD
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a vessel that God used to influence and impact social change for the United States of America and the world. It is up to continue that legacy through our purpose in this life. We must instill the values in our children because every generation must pass the baton to the next in order for life to be better for all people. Until next time, class dismiss!!!
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
CONFLICT
It is a brand new year 2014. The old has passed from last year in 2013. But lets be honest the adversity that you went through or perhaps going through sometimes linger in your mind and heart. It is human nature for men and women to experience the highs and lows of emotions stemming from different variations of conflict. Conflict could be with family, a relationship, at the job, or with self. I know personally because I have experienced conflict with them all. It tested me in so many ways beyond what I could imagine.
Anger, frustration, and sorrow was prevalent in how I was feeling. Sometimes it made me question myself, others, and even God as to why. Then I had to realize God sometimes has to break you in order to build you back up for the purpose he created you. I also realize that as a man, a human being by the flesh our nature is sinful. The consequences of making choices based off immediate gratification, gain, or comfort and not seeking guidance from the Lord. In my heart my faith reactivated because of the many trials, conflicts, the heavenly father has brought me through in my lifetime thus far. The man and woman with wisdom will allow it to make them better not bitter, stronger not weaker, compassionate not insensitive.
I use to hear this expression growing up as a boy, and today as a man it holds true, "Experience is the best teacher." If you hadn't experience pain, sorrow, hate, and setbacks you couldn't appreciate pleasure, joy, love, and advancement.This is real life not your taxes, so everyone has their due season and no one is EXEMPT!
The bible says in Ephesians 6:12, " For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the ruler, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Poetic Thought:
Day to day adversity seems to stomp loudly like a fraternity on probate,
Take time to exhale, so the pressure won't cause you to suffocate,
Stay on the path to your purpose,
Resiliency is deep within, allow it to surface,
You can choose to turn lemons into lemonade or allow the bitterness to make you sick,
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will bring you through any conflict! ~ JD
There is an ole school 90's R&B song by the group Dru Hill that I like a lot. It's called "Tell Me" and I was listening to it just the other day. Well in the song it is referencing a man asking his woman to tell him what she need and want from him so it can be fulfilled. In the same sense but different perspective God wants us to tell him what we need and want from him but it has to be in his will for our life. He only wants the best for his sons and daughters. But we must do our part in order for blessings to manifest and conflicts to be resolved peacefully. Stay encourage! Until next time, class dismiss!!!
Anger, frustration, and sorrow was prevalent in how I was feeling. Sometimes it made me question myself, others, and even God as to why. Then I had to realize God sometimes has to break you in order to build you back up for the purpose he created you. I also realize that as a man, a human being by the flesh our nature is sinful. The consequences of making choices based off immediate gratification, gain, or comfort and not seeking guidance from the Lord. In my heart my faith reactivated because of the many trials, conflicts, the heavenly father has brought me through in my lifetime thus far. The man and woman with wisdom will allow it to make them better not bitter, stronger not weaker, compassionate not insensitive.
I use to hear this expression growing up as a boy, and today as a man it holds true, "Experience is the best teacher." If you hadn't experience pain, sorrow, hate, and setbacks you couldn't appreciate pleasure, joy, love, and advancement.This is real life not your taxes, so everyone has their due season and no one is EXEMPT!
The bible says in Ephesians 6:12, " For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the ruler, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Poetic Thought:
Day to day adversity seems to stomp loudly like a fraternity on probate,
Take time to exhale, so the pressure won't cause you to suffocate,
Stay on the path to your purpose,
Resiliency is deep within, allow it to surface,
You can choose to turn lemons into lemonade or allow the bitterness to make you sick,
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will bring you through any conflict! ~ JD
There is an ole school 90's R&B song by the group Dru Hill that I like a lot. It's called "Tell Me" and I was listening to it just the other day. Well in the song it is referencing a man asking his woman to tell him what she need and want from him so it can be fulfilled. In the same sense but different perspective God wants us to tell him what we need and want from him but it has to be in his will for our life. He only wants the best for his sons and daughters. But we must do our part in order for blessings to manifest and conflicts to be resolved peacefully. Stay encourage! Until next time, class dismiss!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)