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.
This month’s book review is coming a day late but I don’t even know if what I have to say will serve enough justice! It’s entitled “Dreaming the Dream!”
This one, without question is a serious MUST READ! I picked it up at such an appropriate time and was completely blessed beyond description!
This book is an incredible collaboration of 8 exceptional women and men of God who will inspire their readers to walk in love, keep their faith and refuse to abandon their dreams!
This read was beyond timely for me as I have reached a plateau while walking such an uncertain path towards my heart’s desires. Something inside has been reignited after considering the content between these pages.
Here are some highlights! It is my hopes that they will tempt you to purchase your own copy so that you can experience the totality of all the wisdom this book has to offer!
Shawneya Ellis will challenge you to reexamine your life and do some serious pruning! There may be some deadly seeds that may have been deposited in you life. They are smothering and preventing you from experiencing God’s best!
Romella Vaughn provides incredible wisdom on why it’s necessary for every believer to wait on God. Patience is truly a virtue! While we wait we must be in preparation, focus on healing, be patient, have no fear, be aware of distractions and Trust God through it all!
Kishma A. George will encourage your heart and motivate readers to use what they have! Be unique, authentic and never downgrade the gift and visions that come to you from the Lord! They shall come to pass; it has been declared!!
Pippa Ashley provides a moving depiction of the essence of love. She reminds readers of its purpose, importance, the way it should operate and move in the life of a believer.
Dr. Yomi Garnett boldly decrees on the necessity of a steadfast spirit that is essential in living out your dreams. Don’t wallow in your past rather learn from them. Preserverence is non-negotiable and if failure is experienced, its not over! Have faith and fight to be extraordinary!
Rodney Davis shares a powerful testimony on his personal journey towards reaching his own dreams. His story really ministered to me about how God loves using people with barren wombs to produce incredible outcomes!
Tammy Collins Markee encourages readers to be resilient towards the quest of walking towards your dreams. Like a powerful inferno we must keep our eye on the mark while maintaining a humble disposition as we represent him and understand that it’s His process.
Trina Bowers provides loving conviction on the importance of operating in loyalty in order to obtain favor in our own desires. At times we must serve and help others reach their own destiny before ours will come to pass. Selfishness not allowed!
These are just a sample of nuggets I personally obtained from this excellent read. Again I don’t have enough words to express how each one of these authors inspired me to change certain aspects of my spirit as I journey towards what God has for me.
Dreaming the Dream is available on Amazon.com in both paperback and kindle edition.
Most frustrations in life are due to human disappointments with goals, relationships, agendas and our personal desires. When plans fail to go our way and the mundane day-to-day seems to threaten our future, we become stalemate.
Just like in a game of chess, it’s still our turn to make a move but a legitimate one is not foreseeable by the human eye. In this realm, we are clearly out of options but that doesn’t mean we’ve lost the game indefinitely. We need to call a draw and give up stubbornness before playing the next round.
It’s natural to become so busy striving for what we want. Everyone has been there. I know I have. I’ve spent many years trying to climb the corporate ladder. At each elevation I fed my ego and increased my paycheck. My Will was being done! It all still wasn’t enough. By the time I reached the last rung and began failing at the top instantly, I realized that an impasse has been reached and I had no other option but to begin descending. The backwards advance did not feel good. For a time, I became depressed, offended, and lost my tenacity to keep trying.
When I finally sought guidance from My Savior, he revealed that he never intervened with my decisions because none aligned with His Will for my life. What a serious reality check!
It is clear that we are operating in our own rights when:
What we strive for only benefits ourselves or is limited to a select few like our family.
We don’t seek direction and become completely self-driven.
We give ourselves credit for accomplishments or try to justify that God has blessed us in lame attempts to finally acknowledge Him.
We have little time for God in fellowship, worship and prayer. Our periodic 5 minute prayers and occasional church attendance rids our gilt but fulfillment is completely temporal.
God’s Will is NEVER about us alone. His plans benefit a multitude. How we spend our time on earth should not be just about what we think is best with limited consideration for the good of all.
There are tremendous blessings that we can miss out on if we live our lives seperate from His guidance. We can only take ourselves but so far and the enemy will make it appear that we are winning with deceptive and occasional rewards. The bigger picture and outcomes are being missed when God’s not in it and his people are not being blessed by our actions.
Are you spending your days unfulfilled while each passing day looks like the one before?
Are you so busy chasing after what you want and not using your talents, skills and gifts for others?
If so, take some time to reconsider the road you travel. Contentment will not begin less Thy Will Be Done!
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!
