Who's the Master?!

Okay I’m about to take you guys back, I was remembering the movie “The Last Dragon” and had to write about it. In case you’ve never seen the 80’s film; set in New York City, the plot follows a black teenage martial arts student named Leroy Green (often referred to as "Bruce Leroy", although he never calls himself that) with dreams of becoming a great martial artist like his idol Bruce Lee. Leroy goes on a quest to achieve the highest level of martial arts accomplishment, known as "The Final Level". Martial artists who reach the "Final Level" possess "The Glow". As its name suggests it is a mystical energy that can be tapped into by a martial arts master. When a fighter's hands glow, he is one of the best in the world and when his entire body glows, he is the greatest fighter alive. On his journey to becoming the "Last Dragon" and wielding the power of "The Glow," Leroy must confront villains such as a crooked arcade mogul Eddie Arkadian (Murney) and the evil Sho'nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, from whom he must also protect his younger brother Richie (Leo O'Brien) and his love interest, TV music video host Laura Charles (Vanity).

Leroy’s dream of becoming the “Last Dragon” comes true, at he end of the movie during a very heart racing flight between Sho’nuff ( who by the way has been torturing him and his family for a fight, and Leroy has humbling refused). Just when you think “Bruce Leroy” has had enough and the villain has won; he thinks back on all the past lessons, small victories, and motivational words from friends and family and from deep down inside he realizes that “the glow” has been in him the whole time. He jumps up like the master he really is and gives Sho’nuff the butt kicking he deserved!

In the moment of watching the film you can’t help to be overjoyed to see Leroy finally become the man he has trained and disciple his body to become and then to find out the whole time he was looking for the “Master” to teach him how to get “the glow”; the power was in Him the entire time.

I have to sometimes remind myself that the power is already in me. The Holy Spirit is in ME, angels are waiting for ME to call them out to work on my behalf. God has given to ME authority over all things. Why? Because I am a child of God; it’s that simple, but the key to me getting results is having FAITH. I must believe that everything I need is in me (though the Holy Spirit, not my own thinking) and by operating Godly principles ALL things which are of God, will manifest in due season.

Just as “Bruce Leroy” had to finally stand up to Sho’nuff in order for him to truly see who he was. As a Christian I have to stand up to enemy daily with no fear, knowing who I am in Christ and by FAITH calling to powers within me to conquer every battle that comes my way.

Genesis 1:26
God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.

Watch your mouth!

I really don’t understand why the closest people to us make it so hard to grow; to mature, to change, to break away from the norm. Instead of coming to me with love about my mistakes, you would rather discuss them with our “friends” and neighbors behind my back. I don’t get it; you know I’m working on becoming a better person and you can’t see who I “really am?” Why would you.... if you only base your thinking on what you see in the natural? I can’t afford to take your negative thoughts and words to heart.

Please inform me of how this is helping me? Does it make you look or feel better? I mean, explain your motive, and help me to understand how your secret conversations are bettering anyone other than your own self-conceit? Do you find satisfaction in pointing out other people’s faults? In reality, the faults you’re able to point out in me, are faults you see within yourself. What are noticeable to you are things you can identify with. So the next time you’re so quick to point out someone else’s “inadequate behavior” or something that doesn’t meet your “worldly or religious standards”, maybe that’s what you’re really projecting or feeling about yourself.

Instead of becoming apart of the solution, you decide to be apart of the problems that help kill a person’s dreams, self esteem, goals, and drive daily with your tongue just remember: you become the assassin. Even with your good intentions, your behavior makes them of no consequence.

You know what…. now that I really think about it; I want to say thank you. Thank you for allowing me to see who you really are. You were just being you. I have learned to not take it as a negative, because you’re actually doing me a favor. You’re allowing me to see truth.

I made the mistake of calling you my friend and in reality you were the world’s friend.

And even still after my feelings were broken by your words, my heart never allowed those seeds to be planted, and I forgive you, because just as a moth goes into a flame allowing their own desire to kill them. You have no idea how your words meant to kill me, can destroy you.

James 4:4

You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with theworld and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know thatbeing the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses tobe a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God

Walking on Purpose, with Purpose

Have you ever been bored and decided go to Wal-mart or Target and just walk around, probably going down the same aisles again and again, with no purpose? I have. I went in the store on purpose, but without any purpose. Normally, if a store has “good customer service," someone would approach me and ask, “Can I help you find something?” My guess is because the look on my face says “help me” and probably because I’ve been walking very slow like I’ve never been here before. I would smile and politely say, “No thank you, just looking” and carry on looking around like a lost puppy and end up buying something that I really didn’t need.

That can be dangerous, wouldn’t you agree? Walking around on purpose with no purpose, what’s wrong with me?

I’ve been working for the same company for years, doing the same ol’ thing; it’s okay, I’m getting the bills paid and besides moving up within the company is too much work, all the politics and mess in between I rather not entertain it…. so I’ll just stay… where I’m safe, I know this place. Why do I stay, I sometimes ask myself. Because…. I’m working on purpose; not with a purpose…I really can’t explain.

I’ve been seeing someone for a short time now, its cool, drama free… we hang out together, share our time watching movies, and jokes whatever happens… happens, it really doesn’t matter to me. However, we have two different ideas of what a relationship is and I know inside it will never be, why do I stay? Oh that’s simple, because….I’m walking on purpose; without a purpose…. just doing me.

I have to get it together, I MUST focus on what’s important. It’s so easy to teach it, but doing it… can be difficult. I'm walking with purpose on purpose….just wait and see. I’m working at this job with a purpose, not just to pay the bills. I’m not going to allow fear to enter my heart and come out of my mouth, by listening to someone else’s bad experiences or my own limitations, which I have created in my mind to come to pass. I’m on a mission, I have a vision, and I have a purpose.

GOT to be more careful…. Maybe I do have a purpose on dating this person. Am I selfish for enjoying the company of another person? But again I ask myself, what is the purpose? And to be honest, it’s all about me and that’s not a good enough answer, because nothing good ever comes out of being selfish. I have to let it go, I have be happy with me, balance and whole by myself. There’s nothing to fear, I’m not going to feel lonely. There is a difference being between alone and lonely. And if I search for that balance in my life through God, I can never be lonely. People can always leave you, misunderstand your intentions, have wrong motivates and so on, there is no perfect love like God’s love. How can I be lonely with that?

I decided to walk out the rest of my life on and with purpose. I don’t want to look like I'm walking around God’s earth lost in Wal-mart, looking for help. I may end up with something that I really don’t need, wasted my time, money and gas. Instead, I’ve decided to focus on the only truth I know, GOD. And if someone else doesn’t understand it; it’s okay because they have there own purpose to walk in…. just don’t interfere with mine.

"Beware of the Lion"

Going into a new year can be so exciting, we can sometimes make the mistake of sharing our visions and dreams with everyone. What’s meant for you is for you; it's not always for your friends and family. A lot of people will give you advice on what they personally experienced, and unknowingly, totally destroy the passion and zeal you have for your own vision. Be careful, and stay alert.

The enemy is waiting for you to leave the pack of people who are positive and live based on their belief in the unseen world. Allow me to share with you, how I see the enemy and compare his tactics with the patience, skill and talent of a Lion, who waits to kill it’s prey.

The lion has the ability to hide and intently observe it’s prey, as it slinks its way closer to a kill. The grasslands and brush provide excellent cover for lions as they sneak up on their prey. Lions utilize the cover of night to increase their foraging success by hunting when the moon is either down or covered by clouds. [Ever notice the devil does a lot of his dirt during the night, or when your heart is in a dark place?]

When stalking its prey, the lion changes its posture by lowering its head and body staying low to the ground, keeping a visual lock on the target prey. [People will sit and watch you, waiting for the perfect time to put their two cents into your situation, calculating how to end your dreams with each little negative word] Whenever the prey looks away or looks down to eat, the lion creeps closer, and if the prey is to look in the direction of the lion, the lion will cease its movement and remain still, [Smooth operator isn't he, just when you think maybe this person isn't good for me, you’ll say the right words just keeping me on the line, not allowing me to go to far away from you] this “red light-green light” type of interplay continues until the lion gets within striking distance. After the lion has entered the striking distance, it pounces and ends the chase rather abruptly [and before you know it, you have allowed the enemy into your heart and your dreams are now pushed to the back of the closet,... full of “what ifs” and “excuses”]

1Peter 5:8

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

All the goals and plans you have written down for yourself, trust and know, they will come to pass. If they line up with the word of God, require faith to make it happen, these are great signs that God is in it. Pray that God send you people without hidden motivates who you can share and develop your ideas with you.

Next year isn’t just another year, its harvest time for many; there is a season and time for everything (Ecclesiastes3:1). I believe, 2012 is a year of harvest and I make it a point not to cast my pearls upon pigs (Matthew 7:6). I believe in what God has told me and I will walk expecting to see it all come to past. I challenge you to do the same, stay encourage.

Don’t put your issues off on me!

Perhaps it’s just me, but why do people often put there hang ups off on others. I was sharing with my co - workers about my daughter getting braces in the next few months, and they immediately started talking about the negative experiences they encountered. They started to speak death on my child, not life! They referred to it as “just letting you know” but in fact, they were speaking their own life failures on me and my child. I must admit I did get frustrated, to be honest it pissed me off. So in that moment, I came against that spirit, rebuked it and spoke the truth. "My child will not go through those experiences" and left my office.

But after receiving revelation, I realized that it had nothing to do with me and was reminded that my fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness.

For some reason I wasn’t over it. I was still pissed off. Why? Because I didn’t resolve the issue within my spirit, yes I came against that thought and “checked” the person or persons with the truth, but my spirit needed more. I was being developed.

It’s the spirit in me that’s being challenged. The word says that when you resist the devil he must flee and I believe that spirit did flee from that person, however unfortunately after the fact; I realized that the likely hood of it returning back to that person was high. It all started to make sense. Daily I was coming against spirits around me, but I was still missing it. I was praying wrong, it was never about me, my prayers were a temporary fix, because the spirits always returned and sometimes worse.

That person or persons needed a word. They needed to be delivered, not rebuked. You can’t be delivered from something unless you first, repent from the behavior, turn away from it, and replace it with a healthy behavior. And once that same initial issue comes back (and it will) you’re be able to turn away from it. That’s a true sign of being delivered. The replacing of the old behavior is very crucial, because if you don’t replace it, the same spirit will return seven times worse than before.

Matthew 12: 43-45
But when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through dry [arid] places in search of rest, but it does not find any.
44Then it says, I will go back to my house from which I came out. And when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, put in order, and decorated.
45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and make their home there. And the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. So also shall it be with this wicked generation.

That’s what was happening all around me, I was coming against evil spirits, forcing them to flee because I have that authority to do so. However, because that person wasn’t delivered the spirits returned the next time they were tested. As a Christian I want to see deliverance, it’s not just about me. I learned a valuable lesson; instead of coming against that spirit, I prayed for that person’s spirit to gain wisdom and understanding of the truth. For God to immediately send people of positive influence into their lives so they can be led from thier evil ways and walk towards things that will bring them life. I now start to speak life and blessing on people instead of judging them, because when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, he the judge, are doing the very same things. Romans 2:1

Which Way Do I Go

So you’re trying to hear from God? Maybe about moving to a new city, a new job, buying land or maybe you’re wondering if this person is the one for you. Whatever your question is, God has the answer and He’s not keeping it from you. The word says tells us

Matthew 7:8
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

God is always talking. We just can’t always hear, due to static.

Yes static, for a moment think of the communication between you and God as a radio wave. If something or someone interferes with the feed between the two waves it will cause static. Therefore the message will continue to go forth, but you would have miss part of the message due to the static.

Okay, so what can cause static; unforgiveness, bitterness, pride, lust, a lying tongue, and list can go on and on. I think you know where I’m going with this, if you have sin in your life it’s difficult to hear from God. Now I know some of you “know it all's” are going to say, “We all have sin” and this is true, but willfully sinning and falling short are two different things and I think we all know that. HOWEVER, He forgives that which is dealt with; through confession and accountability, thereby is NO STATIC.

Psalm 32:5

I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told]--then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Another way to have static is asking too many people for their opinion or advice. God is trying to lead you in the right direction, but you just have to ask your Auntie and your closest friends for their two cents. Yes, God does say to seek Godly counsel, but he also says in Colossians 3:15 to let the peace from Christ rule as an umpire in your hearts.

Whenever I’m making a decision and I feel confusion, that’s my sign to step back; not confusing this feeling with being uncomfortable, but feeling stressful or unbalance. I allow the peace of God to decide and settle all the questions in my mind. I find wisdom in making choices that I will be happy with today and tomorrow and day after tomorrow.

God is the only one who knows what I need and when I will need it. We must remember we are spiritual being having a natural experience. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. Trusting God can be “scare-fully beautiful”; its “scary” to let go after controlling your life for so long, but so “beautiful” to have the most loving being control it. Not you’re friends, family or even your spouse knows what the future has in store for you, but God does. Yes, they all love you, but at the end of the day, it’s about your personal relationship with God, not the worlds.

So I challenge you to start getting the static out of you life and allow a clear frequency to develop between and the Most High. There are 66 stations available you just have to tune in.

Presume Nothing, Instead Give Thanks

Cheryl and Michael have been married for 5 years and have a ten old son named Devin. For Christmas Devin wants a Four- Wheeler. Devin first came to his mother, “Mom, I wanna four -wheeler for Christmas!” with so much excitement in his voice. Cheryl had a look of concern and said, “Hmmm go tell your Dad about that request.”

“Dad, I wanna Four- Wheeler for Christmas and Mom didn’t say no, all my friends are getting one and you told me that you had one when you were my age….” Michael interrupted Devin, “Son, close down…..and I need to think about this, that’s a lot of responsiblilty.” Devin whined, “Pleasssssse, Dad.” His Dad said again, “Let me think about it.”

For a month, all Devin would talk about was the Four – Wheeler. He even did extra cleaning and asked to help his Mom out in the kitchen. Before He knew it, Christmas was here. He woke up, ran down stairs like a jack rabbit, passed all the other gifts under the tree, open the back door circle around the house, but their was no four- wheeler. He walked back in the house, with tears in his eyes full of disappointment. He didn’t even care to open his gifts under the tree; in silence he went back up to his room.

Soon after his parents came up stairs, “Son, I know you're upset about not getting the four-wheeler, but I just don’t feel in my heart that you're ready for this, I’m not telling you no, just not right now” his Dad said. Devin was so hurt, he didn’t understand. All the whining got to his Mom and Dad. The next day, Devin was surprised to wake up with his Four-Wheeler in the drive way.

The next morning, Devin was so excited, drove the Four- Wheeler right into traffic and thank god for His grace, Devin wasn’t killed. His parents allowed Devin’s pouting changed their good judgment. Michael and Cheryl missed God. Needless to say, they took the Four- Wheeler away from Devin and he got back a year later, but the lesson that was learned could have killed their son. God is always talking, but are you listening? A better question is, do you want to hear what He has to say?

I’ve learned to not allow other people’s unhappiness and whining change what God has already told me. I presume nothing, but instead give thanks for everything. I don’t have to understand why someone says no, and I don’t have try and figured it out. Instead I give thanks for everything else and know that God is in control.

Life isn’t fair, and my circumstances don’t always add up the way I see fit. But as a Christians, I’m not moved by others or my own emotions, I’m guided by the voice of God; the Holy Spirit that dwells in me. If I lead with my emotions that’s subject to change like the wind. Instead my confidence is placed in the Lord, and that will never change.

So I thank you God for daily covering me, and getting me out the mess I sometimes create with my own thinking, and like clock work you always guide me right back to my target; never letting me miss a beat. I know the cost of not being obedient, and not having your favor. Thank you for always, being there even when I wasn’t.