Yolanda Adams "In the Midst of it All"

I really don't have that much to say today.
My favorite line: "it's not because I've been so faithful, or because i've always obeyed Him. It's not because I always trusted Him to be with me all of the way. It's because He loves me dearly."

Sometimes You Have to Shut Up

I am talkative by nature. My friends will tell you that I can't hold water when it comes to secrets. Well, let me take that back. I can't hold my secrets. I can hold theirs. I have always lived by the philosophy that if I tell you most (all) of my business, there will never be a "gotcha" moment. What do you want to know? I am an open book. Heck, you know this.. you are reading my blog.

To be honest, sometimes I tell my business to rally the troops. To gather people on my team. So that someone can commiserate with me. Other times, I am looking for opinions. And still in some instances, I am looking for "atta girl" validation.

But recently, I've learned to do some things quietly. It is a new feeling for me. This is a growing time for me. A time for me to focus and do me. To live my life. To figure out my path. This is my "me and God only" moment. He is going to direct my path, I am going to follow, and that's it. I am not looking for validation from my mom (love you!). I am not looking for validation from my friends (kisses and hugs). I am not looking even for understanding from anyone. This is me and God. And that's all I want to say about that.

I Choose

Someone reminded me of this quote today:"Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been. But today, I have the opportunity to choose." India.Arie

The song later goes on to say: "I put myself in so many chaotic circumstances, but by the grace of God I've been given so many second chances.But today I decided to let it all go. I'm dropping these bags, I'm making room for my joy."

Stay tuned because life just got interesting. Some decisions I make will surprise and shock. Others maybe confused. Just remember one thing: I choose.

I am going to say to much...

I am going to say to much. I already know. But I am still compelled to type, so here goes.

God's handing out spankings today. Not satan, not the enemy, not your neighbor.. just God. And I feel so bad about it. Some folks I know are getting everything they say they want. The job, the shift, the family.. and are pissing it away through disobedience. Pissing away all of the blessings. And God doesn't play. Someone told me recently that we should not mistake God's mercy as His acceptance of our ungodly ways. I think that we can get lulled into a false sense of security due to God's mercy. Mercy is God keeping us from the punishment we deserve. Think back over the stuff that you've done recently: the folks you've slept with, or treated poorly, the lies you told, etc. Where you punished for those actions? Did you wake up dead or with an STD? Did you get fired for lying? Did you get the DUI? Some folks did. But did you? Probably not. Why? I can't speak for every case but quite often it is God's mercy that kept you from getting the punishment you deserve. It pains God to spank us, just like it pains parents to spank their kids. But as the Word says "spare the rod,spoil the child." So when God spanks us, it is never meant to kill us but it is meant to change our ways.

And that is why when you see folks being spanked you have to pray for them to learn from the spanking, but not for God to remove His hand from the person's spiritual bottom until the person has learned their lesson. I hate to see folks I love broken. I am the first to say, "I'll take the pain for you" or "I'll cover you." But just like a sibling cannot take a whupping for their brother or sister, I can't take the beating for my Christian brothers and sisters. They have to be whipped by God to get to their next level. Whipping is never the first choice of discipline. From what I've noticed God tries to send us signs and corrective measures that are less harsh. But the truly hard headed, don't learn from His gentle teachings. They can only learn from the beating. So we can't interfere. We can't take the beating for them.

But we can offer them post beating hugs and tissues. We can pray that this time the lesson sinks in. And we can pray that during our next spiritual spanking, we see the corrective action for what it is and gladly accept it. Because as long as God is whipping us, His hand is on us.

A Bit Quiet

I’ve been a bit silent lately. A bit quieter than normal. Why? Because a lot has been going on. A lot has been shaking my foundation. Well, no it’s not a lot.. really it’s been too much.

Yesterday, I woke up feeling like poo. (I would use the other word but I am trying to be nice.) I felt horrible. I was physically and emotionally sick. I was jacked up to but it plainly. And I lied in bed all day. I lied there. I didn’t even try to put on my superwoman cape. I left it laying on the floor.

But this morning I woke up better. Not great, but better. I woke up. There are lessons that I am learning.

1. Everyone doesn’t believe just because you do. You can have all the faith in the world, but faith isn’t transferable. My faith cannot become your faith. Faith is contagious, but not transferable.
2. If your vision has a set date attached to it, quit tripping in the meantime. If you saw a date in your vision, don’t act a fool when the things in your vision haven’t come to pass. Check the calendar. If the date in your vision and today’s date aren’t the same, calm down.
3. Sometimes you have to rest. Sometimes life is too much and you have to take a break. Taking a break doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.
4. Faith without works is dead. For real. Vision without action is a dream. Anything you want to come to pass in your life takes work. So what are you working for?
5. I can control no one but myself. Me. Me. Me. (And sometimes I can’t even control me.)
6. Yesterday is yesterday. The past is the past. Somethings will get you down, but you can’t stay down.