REFLECTION......

Reflection:

Lookin’ back I see hurt and pain…
Lookin’ forward, I don’t wanna see rain…
that’s for sure…my heart is growing fonder… more and more…
I grow up, seeing life’s uncertainties…
promises made…promises retrieved….
why can’t I see the future sometimes…
who made it against the law, to not know ahead of time…
the struggles and the hustles that come at the drop of a dime…
it’s a scary thought for a heart refined…
boy if they could see me now…
focused and learning, like a farm just plow…
plow through my days, with so much do to…
only the strength of GOD can get me thru…..
yea this one’s a trip, this one I must see
tis’ the season to be jolly right….well let me go trim this tree …….

-Written By Yours Truly

The Great Life!!!

The Great Life


Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled . . . —John 14:27

Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we are tempted to blame God. But we are the ones in the wrong, not God. Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some disobedience somewhere in our lives. But as soon as we let go, everything becomes as clear as daylight to us. As long as we try to serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties combined with doubt and confusion. Our attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. Once we get to that point, there is nothing easier than living the life of a saint. We encounter difficulties when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own purposes.

God's mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, "as the world gives," but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. If you are acting on your own impulse, or out of a sense of the heroic, to be seen by others, the peace of Jesus will not exhibit itself. This shows no unity with God or confidence in Him. The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions. God counters our self-willed decisions with an appeal for simplicity and unity.

My questions arise whenever I cease to obey. When I do obey God, problems come, not between me and God, but as a means to keep my mind examining with amazement the revealed truth of God. But any problem that comes between God and myself is the result of disobedience. Any problem that comes while I obey God (and there will be many), increases my overjoyed delight, because I know that my Father knows and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how He will unravel my problems.

Read...Enjoy...and Pass on the Words of Wisdom :-)

WORDS OF WISDON

sOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT......WORDS FROM MY MINISTER, READ AND ENJOY:

. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . —John 17:22

Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don't know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator.

Personality is the characteristic mark of the inner, spiritual man, just as individuality is the characteristic of the outer, natural man. Our Lord can never be described in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of His total Person— "I and My Father are one" ( John 10:30 ). Personality merges, and you only reach your true identity once you are merged with another person. When love or the Spirit of God come upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. Our Lord never referred to a person's individuality or his isolated position, but spoke in terms of the total person— ". . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . ." Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another.

THE EX EFFECT!

I was reading an article about an Ex- Encounter, and makes me wonder...humm how would people react to running into an EX...it also depends on the circumstances of the break-up...READ and ENJOY! and share your thoughts of course :-)

How to Handle Running into an Ex
By Jessica Knoll

Whether the breakup was amicable or a big ole heart-wrenching mess, crossing paths with a has-been boyfriend is never easy. Here's how to get through it, perhaps even gracefully.

When you run into an ex, the goal is to be as gracious but brief as possible. Since not all ex-encounters are created equal, here are a few scenarios to prep you for your own potentially awkward moment.

When You're the Dumpee: If you bump into the guy who emotionally gutted you, put on a brave face. This means no yelling, blaming, or crying — these antics are best saved for your friends. And you don't want to confirm how smart he was to ditch you. No matter how poorly you're holding up, when he asks how you've been, smile and say, "Great!" Then move on.

When You're the Dumper: Guys behave differently than girls do when they've been hurt. Whereas it might be within your emotional capacity to "act" warmly toward the jerk who ran your heart through the shredder, when you're the jerk, don't expect the same treatment. Be prepared for his cold shoulder and don't dwell on it. Similarly, restrain yourself from being overly nice or concerned. This is only a means to alleviate your own guilt, and might even lead him on.

When You're Still Tempted: You kinda secretly hoped you'd run into him this way: out with your friends, looking and feeling gorgeous. You've had a few drinks and suddenly … you're missing him. Stop, take a deep breath, and mentally list all the reasons why the two of you were not meant to be. Then, remind yourself how long it took to get to this good place you're in now. Don't waste that kind of confidence and energy on him — instead, channel it toward the newer, hotter guy across the room.

Beautiful Nightmare....

Emotions are flowing, like an old cup of joe...

one step, two step, three steps, and moe'

life taking turns, but turns for the better...

give me some warmth, like an old Coogi sweater...

tip tap, i hear the beat...

anticipating the future...

and taking this leap...

my happiness is my sanity...

but staring at this vanity,

all i can see is a reflection of uncertainty

keep pushing he tells me...

so pushing I do....

waiting, and waiting, until this step is through....

head is spinning, heart is poundin'

feet are tremblin', like I'm about to bust a round... then....

You can call me Bonnie,

because he is my Clyde....

suddenly I awake...with him by my side....

d*mn that dream was crazy....worse than a roller coaster ride...

I awake with anguish...but the dream is thru...

he kisses me, then I roll over.... and say I love you....

Now that Obama is Pres. What would I tell my future children to make them appreciate it all.....

I'd tell them that this experience teaches us that none of our protests, sit-ins, marches, boycott's went in vain. They truly made a difference. I didnt get to witness the full effect from the beginning, but I'm more than happy to be here to see the end result. I'd tell my future child that I'm happy they are here to see the end result and be born into the land of opportunity and not here to suffer, the physcial hurt and pain that our forefathers had to endure. I'd tell them that life is not easy, GOD makes us face difficulties and experiences that aren't meant for us at all but rather to make us useful for HIM..

GOD wants us to understand what may be transpired in others souls, so that we won't be surprised by what may come across us, that includes the good and the bad, the lessons, challenges, fights, prayers, etc. God knows what he's doing, and I'd tell the child that they were born at the right time and born into the right situation no matter what may arise, they can work through it, if they look to the Lord for guidance. Sure you may see friends come and go, they may face rejection, pain, insult, happiness, they'll see people die in the struggle, but people like me and you won't let it go in vain. I'd make my child happy to be black, and american, and to come from such an illustrious family lineage. I want to create a lineage, a legacy so great that even people in foreign lands will know my name, your name, the child's name. That's how I want it to be, that's what I dream of....I'd tell my child to always strive for the top position, and never give up. Get the job done and try not to leave this earth without a positive legacy to leave behind.......this is for my children....

"WITH THIS RING.....I THEE WED....."

Are tattooed rings more symbolic than a tradional wedding band?

In my eyes wearing a ring has more of a meaning than just flauting a jewel (which the jewelry companies just love). It is more of an exchange of love placed on the ring finger which from history is the finger that is connected to the heart, a symbol of love. Blessing a ring and placing a ring on that finger during the ceremony is when a person declares their eternal love for one another (the pastor makes you repeat.."with this ring...I thee wed...".... he doesnt say..."with this tattoo I thee wed..."LOL. It has been tradition since the 11th century in most religious cultures.

For me, I want my wedding band engraved with the name my husband and the date of our marriage inside it, this strengthens the symbolism of this precious jewel and the sentiment of the rings, as it be passed down from generation to generation. Now I'm not saying a tattoo on that finger is a bad idea, it's all in what you make it...tattoos are risky either way... but at the same time, anyone can tattoo their body with their girlfriend or boyfriends name on them, it does not mean the same thing to me. I believe going through a ceremony, and performing the act under god, is what makes it better. A tattoo can be put on a person anyday, and at any cost, there is nothing particularly special about it. A tattoo alone doesnt particularly classify you as a married person. Upon explaination you can therefore inform people that you are married and why it's on that finger, etc. But someone from afar can see the ring and know what the deal is, whether they are attracted to the ring, or not.

Now of course you're not gonna wear your ring 24/7 there will be days when it has to be taken off, for comfort reasons, at certain jobs, you may not want to mess it up, or snag it on things, that's understandable. But not wearing one at all, or having one at all for that matter, justifies something different to me, in a semi-negative light. It's something every man in the past generations had to get used to, one of many sacrifices they make when they do get married, is freeing up their 1 poor little finger on their left hand to wear a ring. I can see in the past men not wearing them because they couldn't afford one, now that I understand, and a ring is not the only thing that symbolizes marriage, in my eyes, its just a tradition, but people of this generation, just LOVE changing tradition and creating their own lil meanings behind stuff..lol it never fails. The bible also talks about tattoos not being cool, and we made our own rules for that too, so I guess it'll never stop.

However, do as you see fit, do what you want to do, no one can judge you, so wearing one or not wearing one is still your choice, but I just wanted to share that with you :-)

Please let me know your thoughts and feelings on this...

Is it hard for a man who doesn't wear jewelry, to wear one when he gets married?
Is it the new thing being accepted by men of this generation?