We All Have Crosses To Bear!

Look around you and feel with your heart. All of us living have some problem or other. When we think that our own problem is the heaviest, look at the person next to us, the person we live with, work with, and even go to church with. Our burdens are trivial compared the cross that they might be carrying. We’ve forgotten that God will never give us more than we can bear. Either we’ve forgotten our faith or it wasn’t strong enough. Some people crosses seem incomparable to our own. And they may be. But, it’s what we can bear. What a responsible burden our leaders must carry? And we are still never satisfied. “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalms 55:22 (NIV). We still like to stay in control and that what causes us more problems because there are some things beyond our control! And even if our friends have our best interest they still can not help us. We have to look to the hills where our help really comes from.

Our paths in life are not always straight and smooth. We have to deal with curves, hills, weeds, and decisions. We don’t know what direction to take at times and then the way just seems so complicated that we won’t move from where we are because it’s comfortable and safe. I know, I’ve been there, too. I also know that it’s never too late to keep moving.

A Giant, Warm, Welcome To Young Ashton Thomas Johnson!

 

Growing fast!

Sleeping like a baby!

Baby Ashton Thomas Johnson was born to Kezia and Troy Johnson on August 11, 2011. He came into this world weighing 9lbs 8.8 ozs and 20 inches long!  He's going to be a tall young man.  Both sides of the males in their families are over 6'2".  Did I mention that his great, grandmother is my Godsister?  That's because her mother is my Godmother.  Yes, I'm proud, too!

Strife & Discord!

As the man of the house, he should confront the strife and discord in his household, and protect the love in his home. All the deceiver needs are hairline fractures where he can place small explosive darts to widen the gap between family members. Once started it takes more than miracle glue to put things back in place. Just as the tiny mustard seed grows large so will strife and discord if not addressed. We have all seen it destroy from within. We’ve seen churches, families, relationships, to name a few, come apart because of a small disagreement that elevated into uncontrollable and irrational decisions. The love once there now seemed that it never existed, envy took over. Falling in love is easy, staying in love takes a lot of work. Most of the time we fall in love for the wrong reasons. We like what we see and what we get. So we think we can fine tune what we have and instead of complying our new love becomes resentful. Or maybe they just got tired of playing make believe to please others and decided to please themselves. I don’t know, there are so many explanations. Maybe we’re not looking long term after the body changes and think about the mental compatibilities. Temptations are all around us. Disrespect is running rampant and is largely acceptable. Believe me, the devil is still unhappy even when chaos exists. He can never be happy. It is his goal to cause disruption with anything God has created. And we know that all things good are His creation. I’m not going to get into any religious debate because we all have different beliefs. I do know that if we don’t include God in our lives, strife and discord will abound. We will need Him to protect us from the enemy.

Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams - The Prayer! Kirk Franklin – Hosanna!

Dedicated to Patricia!  This is for you, my friend!  Kirk Franklin adds his touch, too!

The Prayer

Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams

--Verse (Yolanda)--

I pray You’ll be our eyes

And watch us where we go

And help us to be wise

In times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer

When we lose our way

Lead us to a place

Guide us with Your grace

To a place where we’ll be safe

--Verse (Donnie)—(Yolanda)

I pray we’ll find Your light (I pray we’ll find Your light)

And hold it in our hearts (and hold it in our hearts)

When stars go out each night (when stars go out each night)

Remind us where You are (remind us where You are)

Let this be our prayer (let this be our prayer)

When shadows fill our day (when shadows fill our day).

(D) – Oh Lord, lead us to a place, oh my

(Y) – Guide us with Your grace (guide us with Your grace)

(D/Y) – Give us faith so we’ll be safe

Both:

A world where pain and sorrow will be ended

And every heart that’s broken will be mended

And we’ll remember we are all God’s children

Reaching out to touch you, reaching to the sky.

We ask that life be kind (we ask that life be kind)

And watch us from above (and watch us from above)

We hope each soul will find (we hope each soul will find)

Another soul to love (another soul to love)

(D/Y) – Let this be our prayer (let this be our prayer)

(D) – Just like every child (just like every child)

Both: (x2)

Needs to find a place

Guide us with Your grace

Gestures Of Love!

I overslept this past Sunday morning so I went to another church instead of my own.  I don’t like attending any functions late.  I usually go to St. Peter’s downtown as my backup or St. Martin de Porres if it’s very late.  The last time I attended St. Pete’s, I noticed that a young married couple in the front two pews ahead of me was pregnant.  This time they had their brand new little girl with them.  It wasn’t anything odd about their attentiveness to their baby but I found it interesting how subconsciously they were always touching each other either by standing, sitting, or kneeling very close to each other.  One can see how much they were in love with each other.  They reminded me of that old feeling.  Sometimes we forget what love means when some of us have had problems with it in the past.  We’re hesitant about starting something that might end in pain.  We might even push love away if we’re afraid of being hurt again.  Then, sometimes, just sometimes, when you thought it was all over, when you least expected it, the dream you put on the back burner comes to life when that someone enters into your life with intelligence, seductive eyes, gorgeous smiles, a fine looking garden and the desire to love you as much as you love them. It’s not that opposites attract but commonality in the same beliefs that can be the magnet.  That young couple displayed a sincere effort to show each other how much they meant to one another.  I like that kind of closeness, loving being loved by the one you love.  Some folks celebrate their life of being single, I don’t knock them.  I want more sharing my life with the woman that loves me.   I wish the new parents and child the best of everything.

Who Am I To Criticize?

Certain words can trigger negative reactions. We’ve all had past relationships and are currently in new ones. We or our loved ones at some time have said something that brought the wrong response. Unintentional statements are the ones most confusing since they were not meant for the explosive results afterwards. No matter how careful you want to be, you still seem to mess up. I’m talking about words that you sincerely thought would not offend anyone. What makes it even more complicated is that it seems unacceptable for you to stand up for yourself. In other words, you can’t explain yourself. Webster online dictionary definition for Explain is: 1 a: to make known b: to make plain or 2: to give the reason for or cause of 3: to show the logical development or relationships of. To me, that does not sound like an excuse. Excuse is: a: to make apology for. b: to try to remove blame from. If I’m wrong, I will accept it. But, at least give me an opportunity to explain myself! Don’t just criticize me for my words and actions. For every action there is a reaction. If you’re eager to point out what I did wrong, do you notice your own wrongs, too? Luke 6:42 (NIV) states, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” We all want our relationships to work and we all have our faults. How can two people who love each other so much overcome their flaws? God must be a part of their lives day in and day out. Otherwise, the enemy’s will destroy anything that is of God. We all have heard of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV); 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I still get excited when I see and be with the love of my life. I may act childish at times around her but she is still my baby. But we all got work to do.  Remember: It's not all about you or all about me. It has everything to do with us opening the door for God's blessings.

Get To Know Your Potential Mate!

“People who are B blood type have a different set of characteristics than people who are Type O or Type A - they are susceptible to different diseases, they should eat different foods and exercise in a completely different manner. Some believe that personality is influenced by blood type!”, said by Dr. Peter D’Adamo. Interesting. That type of thinking can be related to some beliefs that people who have red hair are quick-tempered. I don’t know if that is factual or not. Studies have shown that Type B’s scored higher in the intuitive, insightful area, some as far as being mystical. For some reason, I tend to think that B blood-types are extremely redder than most. Now how silly can that be? But it also interesting that Type B’s are the balance between the O’s and the A’s and is could produce higher cortisol levels in issues regarding stress. Stress can really through this group off balance. But their recovery time is a lot faster due to the Nitric Oxide molecule mediating in the central nervous system. Even Type-Bs’ diet is much different than others, they can eat goat, lamb, mutton, rabbit and venison but no chicken. Yes, chicken contains a Blood Type B cells which are sugar binding proteins that can attach themselves to other cells preventing them to protect them specific duties for protecting the body. Eating chicken for some people can be very dangerous even resulting in strokes. Here are some tips from Dr. D’Adamo’s lifestyle strategies for Type Bs:

• Visualization is a powerful technique for Type Bs. If you can visualize it, you can achieve it.

• Find healthy ways to express your nonconformist side.

• Spend at least twenty minutes a day involved in some creative task that requires your complete attention.

• Go to bed no later than 11:00PM and sleep for eight hours or more. It is essential for B's to maintain their circadian rhythm.

• Use meditation to relax during breaks.

• Engage in a community, neighborhood or other group activity that gives you a meaningful connection to a group. Type Bs are natural born networkers.

• Be spontaneous.

• As they age, Type Bs have a tendency to suffer memory loss and have decreased mental acuity. Stay sharp by doing tasks that require concentration, such as crossword puzzles or learn a new skill or language.

Are you presently dating a Type B person? I don’t usually write about things like this other than my colonoscopy some years ago. But this is really about knowing that person who might be a potential part in your life.