Like many, I simply love summer! Mostly because of the ripeness it provides in fruit! Bing cherries are my very favorite and I have a time at the local farmers market rummaging through baskets of them to assure I pick out nothing but the the best.
Last summer I visited an orchard with my family. It was my first time and I felt so child-like while racing with my son down the isles of purposely planted trees. Eyeing the fruit of each and deciding which was worthy of selection and deposit into our wooden basket. I also could not help but to notice those that fell to the ground, were pushed off by the way-side as their bruises shimmered in the sunshine accenting signs of unworthiness.
Like a careful fruit selector, so are some believers when it comes to mounting issues in our lives. We give some to God and keep others discarded away in the crevices of our bruised and bleeding souls. We “Cherry Pick” and select which problems we feel and want God to handle while we retain, ignore, bury and discard others that our level of faith has not trusted our Savior to completely deliver us from.
Maybe we’ve been in it so long that we gave up hope for change, or we just don’t believe that matters actually can. So we endure hidden and secret pains that have contaminated and rotted away at the core of our spirits.
Jesus Christ says Cast all your cares on him! This is the totality of Him sacrificing His life for ours. He died and paid the cost for EVERY matter that concerns us. He did not pick and choose! He wants it All!!
There is no statement more true than; “Nothing is too big for our God!”
What problems are you facing today that you have “Cherry Picked”?
Is it your finances?
Your relationships?
Your health?
The pain from your past?
Your concerns for the future?
Your deferred dream?
Whatever it may be, Consider how long it’s been in your possession. Has anything really changed?
Offer it up to your Lord and Savior and let him REALLY handle it! It’s the reason why He came, lived, died and rose again! He’s more than able!
Hi there readers!! This month’s article published on The Kish Magazine Dreamer’s Blog is another motivational piece about the necessary work efforts when you are striving towards destiny!
We all have dreams but along the journey towards them we meet so many obstacles!!! No one is exempt! I’m preaching to myself as I pen these words! It’s challenging to stay inspired and to keep going at times. I know my natural mind asks often, “Is this really going to happen for me? Will it come to pass?”
Of course it will because my Abba Father already said so in Jeremiah 29:11. I know that my dreams line up with the gifts He’s given me and He’s shown me the end in visions. As I travel, He sends beautiful people my way to cheer me on and reminds me that I must not grow faint!
I give that same to you because iron must sharpen iron so that we hold each other accountable to not give up!
Here is the link to the article entitled “Believe and Build it!” (God has now blessed me with my own column on the site so I am truly grateful!)
I took the time to interview my younger brother who I feel has an amazing testimony! I have been there to watch him evolve from an immature boy to a very polished, responsible and focused man. His challenges as a 2x convicted felon which robbed him of a decade of his life, has now been turned completely around! He gives the Lord Jesus Christ all the credit for where he is today! Be encouraged and share his story with someone who may very well need it!
Steven’s Journey:
As a child growing up in Philadelphia, Times were good and times were bad. My mom was and still is a workaholic. She was there, but not there. My Father, well let’s just say that he’d rather do drugs then get to know his sons or, stepdaughter.
There isn’t too much that I can say about my dad. But my mom, she always managed to make sure that, every holiday whether it be Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter or Birthdays, her children had what she could give them. Another good moment is when my sister scared the life out of my brother and I by acting like she was possessed. She painted her face white and wore this all white gown, and came down the steps. When my little brother and I saw her we immediatly started crying and was scared to death! Till this day I still bring that up and we just laugh.
Two things that I despise about my childhood is, not listening! and not paying attention. By age 14 is when it all started. The streets of Philadelphia had me in its cluches. I started smoking marijuana, drinking and hanging with the wrong crowd. I began thinking that I was untoucheble. I was into all sorts of illegal activities! My judgement and my sense of self worth was gone. I cared less about school, authority figures and family members who saw me traveling down the wrong path. I had no care in the world! I did not pay attention or, listen to anyone’s advice.
My first time being incarcerated came at the age of 18. Yes, I was scared but I still had that “I do not care” attitude. I still had a child’s mentality who thought the world was his!
It wasn’t until I heard those huge steel gates close behind me and lock, that I realized that what everyone was trying to get me to see is finally a reality.
I would spent the next 5 years wishing that I would have listened and payed attention.
Being in prison at a young age made me feel like an animal. I did not like it so I started acting out. That rebellion came out of me again. This was in the 90’s so back then sentences were like 2.5 to 3 years in length. My sentence was 3.5 to five for robbery. I ended up doing the whole five years when I could have been releases in 3. All because I wanted to act up.
Three years into my sentence I learned that its not all about me! Those streets didn’t care about me! Those clowns I hung with didn’t care about me either! I discovered that I was in jail because I followed instead of leading. I had to take control of my own life and not end up back behind those walls.
When I was finally released in the year of 1999 I was happy! 23 years of age now, I told myself I was going to change. During my time in prison I grew to let things go quickly. When released, I had no unresolved anger or, depressive issues. I figured hey, God gave me another chance to do something better with my life so, I have to take it.
I signed up for G.E.D classes that I failed! I was jumping from job to job. It was hard being an ex-convict. I felt like life was playing a mean joke on me and at some point the punch line would kick in.
In the fall of 2002, I moved out of Philadelphia, and relocated to Roanoke Virginia. I wasn’t alone! I move down there with a girl I met and her daughter. Most of you know how this story goes, never bring the sand to the beach! That’s what I would hear older guys say but didn’t know what that meant at the time. That joke that I felt life was playing on me only got worse!
That sand that I bought to the beach changed! She started kicking me out the house, calling the police, being dissrespectful, until I ended up at a place and doing things I know I should not be doing.
In the fall of 2006 I ended up being convict of unlawful wouding, and sentenced to another 5 year prison stay. This time wasn’t like the last time. I acually tried to change! I listened and payed attention to those who saw me walking the wrong path. This was the act of pure self defense, but no one knew that except for myself.
Now as a two time fellon, I really had my thinking cap on and my priorities straight! I knew what I needed to do.That second time in prison really opened my eyes wide! While incarcerated I managed to finally get that G.E.D under my belt as well as a trade. I told myself that I was going to take charge of my life and STOP acting like the world owes me something. I was released in the year of 2011. That first year was of course hard having to now put down two fellony convictions instead of one on job applications. I kept my head up though! It wasn’t like I did not have a job, I just wanted a better job. So, I took that G.E.D and went to college in 2012.
By that time I was and still am involved with a beautiful woman! I know she has my best interest at hand and loves me for me.
I graduated college in 2015 as a Communication Design Major and had a job in the field before I graduted making Magazines, Business Cards and brochures for companies in my Area.
I also married my beautiful queen who was the right woman for me that same year. Finally God has recently blessed me with a great employment opportunity with full benefits and I am now in training to become a supervisor. Life is good!!!
Today I feel like there are no more jokes being played. I was the only joke and I played myself! God has been a major factor in my life and he was the missing piece of the puzzle. Without Christ none of this would have ever been possible. The funny thing is that, He has been there all along waiting for me to aknowledge His presence.
The advice that I would give to a young men headed in the same direction I walked is, take a really close look at yourself and analyze your situation. Ask yourself two question: Do I know God? and Do I want to know God?
There is nothing wrong with failure if it’s for a good reason. We are bound to make mistakes, but its not the mistake you made or make that hurts you. But its how you handle the Consequences that follow that make you a better person. I can say that, my actions made me a better person today and for years to come.
You are completely covered with a thin layer of grime that seems impossible to wash away. Its equivalent to a tough and stubborn hard-water stain with major calcium build-up! It’s sight is as familiar as those glasses in the dish washer that came out looking nearly as they did going in.
It’s slimy
Sticky
Smudging
Blinding
And down right icky
It’s clean, you convince yourself since it went through the quick rinse cycle so you dry it off, put it on the self, close the cupboard and praise God that it’s at least concealed. Just like those dingy dishes, so is the residue of your past . It just won’t seem to wash away, so you suppress and hide it.
That abuse
That rejection
That divorce
That relationship gone astray
That abortion
That melestation
That loss
That misfortune
That affair
That decision you made
That disease that refuses to heal serving as a periodic reminder of who you once were and USE to be…..
So you Advance through the years with your routine surface rinse calling it clean when you know, downright it’s still filthy and riddled with dirt. Don’t you see the cloudy film that remains even after your thorough scrub of prayer, praise and even heart felt worship? It’s still there! You fool many for you appear well put together, in apparel, education, maturity, filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues, encouraging others and shouting around the church.
You’ve gotten use to the residue. At least it’s not as visible as it use to be. Maybe it won’t ever be 100% clear so the faint excess of its existence is going to have to be good enough.
But your Redeemer who is Christ Jesus, laid his life down just for these messy matters. His precious blood is the only cleansing agent powerful enough to wash that film away once and for all! It was never yours to keep when you gave your life to the Redeemer. What filth remains are just mere facts that occurred in your life and are not meant to define your future or for you to clean up on your own. It’s the enemy who purposely tries to remind you of those lies that your dirt is a permanent stain on your destiny.
Take that mess out of the cabinet and put it back in the washer one more again! This time, put it through the full wash cycle and add in a double dose of antibacterial faith, warfare prayer, confessions, counseling and the matchless word of God!! That residue has no defense against this mental and spiritual dust busting concoction! Enough is enough; it has to go!
Are you a Christian but secretly STILL struggle with the events of your past?
It’s time to pull it up from the root and REALLY experience freedom! Gods got so much for you but can’t make it come to pass until you are truly set free from those demonic ties that bind.
Christ Jesus is your Savior, your Healer and your Redeemer!
Tonight at 8pm est, yours truly will be interviewed again on Heart Ministry Radio!
This time I was called by one of the station’s show hosts, Valerie Brown-Baul, a.k.a Coach Val, to speak on the topic of leadership on her show “Leadership, The I Am….Way. Some of you may recall that I did my very first reading recommendation on her book entitled the same. If you missed it, here is the link. Again an excellent resource on developing in Christian Leadership.
I would be honored if you would listen in on the interview tonight. Visit the website at http://www.heartministryradio.info or download the app to tune in! You will also be blessed with commercial free gospel music, inspirational talk shows, and periodically you will hear my voice reading some of the blogs posted here on this site! God has really been using me for his glory and I am completely humbled and honored!
If you tune in, write back on this platform and let me know your thoughts! Blessings to you all!!
The woman I am today hasn’t been around all that long. I’m not use to her but I want to get to know her better because I like her an awful lot!
You see, I’ve known the old me longer than the new. The old is familiar and comfortable. I have over 30 years of history with her and I know what to expect. But she’s dark, oppressed, depressed, lacks a healthy self image and confidence. This new demeanor is bold, aggressive, feels she can do anything she puts her mind too, will tackle matters even if she feels scared and refuses to give up! She’s only been around for a very short time. Where has this chick been all my life!!!
As a believer in Christ Jesus, I wish I could say that the transformation from the old to the new was some instantaneous metamorphosis! Well, it hasn’t been! The truth is, I fight almost daily to walk in 2nd Corinthians 5:17.
The good news is that every day the old me is being pushed out of the spotlight, while the new me takes center stage, exudes all of her fabulousness and is completely taking over!! I am intimidated by her for I don’t know what she’s truly capable of! I also admire and look up to her. She has to stay for I trust the God who has called her forth.
This may sound like an oxymoron to many who know the new me but I still struggle to feel on the inside what I look like on the outside. It’s a tug of war daily but a fight the new me is destined to win! Those accustomed to the old watch, wonder, whisper and stare. That’s ok, because the new me can handle all of that!
She has plans in spite of her past. She has strength that the old me couldn’t begin to fathom. She’s holding on to her faith in assurance that Job 8:7 will be a sure part of her destiny. Soon and very soon the old me will rest in peace, while the new will continue to operate in humility in remembrance of what she evolved from. It’s all in the Name of Christ Jesus.
Are you in transformation? Can you relate to this inner battle I have shared with you? It’s real but a journey I am so privileged to be on! The world hasn’t begun to see what the new me has to offer. For the first time in my life, I’m excited about the possibilities.
Happy Sunday! The New Me
Our constitutional rights in the USA are being violated by other countries believe that they can violate our rights because they are not based herein the USA!
