Telling it like it is!

My prayer today is that we all learn how to love one another.

remove hatred...... replace with love

remove violence..... replace with peace

remove jealousy..... replace with rejoicing another's success

And most important,

remove self......... replace with God, the creator of all things

Stay blessed and continue to think about it and make the difference. This is food for thought: It's tight but it's right!

The title placed on people called friend

We know that friend is defined as a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. Friendship on the other hand is defined as the state of being a friend to value a person's friendship. Loyalty is an element of a friend and friendship, and is defined as faithfulness to commitment or obligations. Personally, to be a friend means to sincerely stand by you through thick and thin, lovingly correct you when you are wrong, and loyally not allow others to discredit or demean you in my presence. As a friend I am the shoulder you can lean on, if I have then you have, if you're hurt then I am hurting as well, my respect and love for you will never change no matter who comes around or who I am associating with.

Now, things can get a little shady when so-called friends are disloyal and/or don't even respect the solidity that the friendship is supposed to be built on. People of this caliber are comfortable around others who discredit, demean, and damage your character. These so-called friends will "Amen" the negativity. This is not a friend! Proverbs 18:24 says, "a man that hath friends must show himself friendly". A true friend is always faithful and respectful to the friendship; defending it and prevailing over the opposition. In conclusion, remember that everyone you are friends with are not friends with you. Everyone that you are down with will not be down with you. Everyone you laugh with is not laughing with you but at you. The one you tell a secret to and reveal it to others. The one you sing praises about sing curses about you. The one you are rejoicing with is not rejoicing with you. My recommendation: Choose your friends wisely! Talk and walk with God. He will show you who is for you and who is not. His word will never return void and His judgment is always perfect. We cannot hide the real us from him. This is food for thought: Check them and disassociate yourself if the friendship on their end is counterfeit.

Today will be what you make it

It can be good. It can be bad. It can be exciting. It can be boring. It can be on a high note, and it can be on a low note. It is what you make it. In the word of God it states that we must command the morning. We have the right to create our own atmosphere. We are atmosphere changers. First, I gave God thanks when I rose this morning and asked Him to forgive me of any sin I have committed that violates His law. Then I commanded the morning and the entire day that it would be encouraging, full of excitement, and full of happiness, joy, peace, and love. Wherever I walk today the atmosphere will change and never be the same. Blessings will flow non-stop, and I will be a blessing to others. Hallelujah, my morning and entire day is commanded, my atmosphere is set, happiness is all around me, and I am blessed. This is food for thought: Now what are you going to do? Will you set your atmosphere? The Word gave me the right to prophesy over myself. Are you willing to prophesy over your life? If not, then shame on you. I am out to get mine. Hate it or love it! I know it is already done ... here comes the blessings. I see them!!

Life has a lot of things we want but don't need

Bad decision-making brings about "The Haves and The Have Nots". Example of a "have not": If my salary is $25,000 annually and I am in desperate need of a vehicle, keep in mind I have other living expenses, why would I purchase a $60,000 car? I have the funds for a descent, less-expensive car. It can be managed within my budget without being strapped, stressed, or desiring to be someone who is trying to keep up with the Joneses, seeking man's accolades. The "haves" pray to God for the desires of their heart and give Him thanks for supplying what is needed. This is food for thought: This is a prime example of "The Haves and The Have Nots". I would rather have Jesus than silver, gold, or man's accolades.

Do you feel like the troubles in life weigh you down?

I am more than sure the answer is yes. We have to take a major inventory of our lives. Checking the parts we've played in our problems. If our part was not in compliance with God's law then we are required to get on our knees and ask Him for forgiveness. If you feel as if you are drowning in your worries, don't! Because you have a 24-hour Lifeguard and He walks on water.... His name is JESUS. We all must abide by His law, "thou shall not commit adultery, thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, thou shall not bear false witness, thou shall not covet, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself". Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: Therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Just food for thought: Let us check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.

Many us pray for money and wish we had plenty of it

I am guilty of it at one point in my life. Allow me to tell you about the favor of God. It is worth more than millions and billions of dollars. It'll open doors for you. God's immeasurable favor is the key to everything. We cannot roll over and play dead and think God is going to just lay it on us like that ... even though He can. To whom much is given much is definitely required. Example: in order to pay your bills you have to go to work. We tap into the source (God) and work at the resource (the job). My line of thinking is - in order to receive His immeasurable favor I feel I have to know Him, have a relationship with Him, study His word, trust Him wholeheartedly, decrease so He can increase, diligently work in the house of the Lord like I worked in the streets, proclaim to the world that He is my personal savior, know that when it comes to the only wise God that nothing can separate me from Him, and I have to wait on Him no matter what the circumstances are. But always remember that if you are ashamed of Him and His word, He will be ashamed of you. It is not optional, we must get our house in order, get our business straight, and increase our prayer life. Food for thought: Trust God! Man has no heaven or hell to place you in but they will encourage you. The choice and the relationship with God still remains your decision. What will your choice be? What a mighty God we serve with our destiny in His hands!!

I am just putting it to you straight again

Life has its battles, twists, turns, arguments, settlements, likes, dislikes, love, hate, discrimination, unselfishness, meanness, happiness, sadness, crimes, unsolved murders, and the list goes on for years. Let me put it to you straight with no chaser ... God is still standing by. All we have to do is turn from our wicked ways, ask for forgiveness of our sins, be sincere, accept Him as our personal Savior, then the only wise God will take us as we are. I have no time to worry about the things going on in the world. I pray about them and turn them over to Jesus. He can and He will work them out. It's so sad that the Lord blesses us beyond measure and loves us unconditionally, and we don't give Him the time He is so worthy of. I am not preaching to the choir nor trying to pretend I have it 151% percent together. But, it is my duty and I do mean MY DUTY to reach back, grab one, teach one, and encourage one about what God has done for me. How He set me free, brought me out, and opened His loving arms to me. We cannot make it without a relationship with God. We must give Him more respect! Knowing He died for us so that we may have the right to the tree of life. This is food for thought: Check it or respect it. God is matchless!!

Death and a Funeral

All could be going well, but when the Lord says that our time and assignment on earth is complete then we move on. Death is the expiration of life in the physical with a transition to the spiritual. We decide on earth where will we spend eternal life. Death is something serious and we can't get around it ... "as sure as a man lives he shall one day surely die", says the Lord. Once death has taken place people mourn, and speak kindly about the deceased. Even though they can no longer hear. If you did not say nice things during their life, went by to check on them every now and then, picked up the telephone to just say hi then death is too late. Give a person their flowers while they yet live. Food for thought: Come to Jesus just now.

Strong Family Ties

When we are single and free we hold strongly to our family ties. However, when we become married some things must change and boundaries must be set. After God, your spouse and children are priority one! You have to take care of your household first to ensure that it is in right standing as it should be. In order to keep your ship (home) from sinking and to save your passengers (household) you must pay strict attention to the issues of your own before offering to assist others. With boundaries in place, it is alright to still hangout from time to time, assist others with issues if you can, and even give advice. Food for thought: Take it or leave; swim or drown.

Felt like telling the truth

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like telling a person something truthfully, but you didn't? I'm sure we've all been there. If we say we love the Lord then the truth is what we must stand on, stand for, and speak on even if you have to stand alone. God and His Word is truth! Do you find it hard to deliver the truth because it may come across as offensive or that the recipient may not accept it? My take is that it is both. Because before growth and development, many people (including myself) would be upset when the truth was told. Now, I can take it because I can distinguish between the two, knowing when it is truth or when it is definitely someone's opinion of me and they're using it as truth just to say what they want to say, sometimes negatively. However, I serve everyone notice that I can take it because I am one who will definitely stand on it and tell it like IT IS. I believe in God and His word. I will not have a problem correcting others nor with receiving correction if it is truth. In conclusion, just be able to take it if you give it. Because the entire world is opinionated, but the entire world does not support or take truth constructively. Just food for thought: With the burden of proof being, what is your truth?

Defining Friends Mixed with Careful Decisions

Friend is defined as a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of family relations. Have you ever wondered in bonding with someone, and during the good times thought that it would be unbreakable? Well, it is the little things that can really destroy a friendship, family relationship, and specific bonds. Little things like misunderstandings, taking things too personal, lack of respect for one another, mood swings, lack of consideration for each other's opinions, lack of trust, always dwelling on negativity, and no respect for another person's space without thinking that they are being funny because they took a few days break from you. If we are friends and respect the bond we have built over time (you knowing my character and me knowing yours) then we must be able to agree to disagree. That's what friends do. In addition, if neither of us can respect and consider the things mentioned and deviate from the pettiness then the friendship, bond, or relationship was never a solid one. Decisions must be made concerning the friendship, family relationship, and/or bond. If one of us has too much pride to ask for forgiveness and to make the first point of contact instead of waiting on the other then decisions must be set into action. If you do not forgive me or I you, then we have a problem. Sometimes friendships/relationships do not recover from something so simple. The friendship/relationship may have run its course and we must love each other from a distance. It takes two to tango! So choose your friends carefully. Move on ... it is not that serious! Just food for thought: If we do not invite Christ into our friendships, family relationships and/or bonds then we are doomed. In conclusion, we must invite Him in all we do because He will direct our paths. Again, just food for thought: If the shirt does not fit then stay out of Baby-Gap and move on to Gap for adults! I am sure something will fit. Take heed!! Stay Encouraged at all times!!!

Do not forget ... Deliverance is key

We all have made decisions we regret, traveled some roads we regret, and at some point thought it was all about us. If you were a stripper and don't strip anymore - - you are delivered. If you were a thief and don't steal anymore - - you are delivered. If you were a drug dealer and don't deal anymore - - you are delivered. If you were a gangster and don't terrorize people anymore - - you are delivered. If you were with the devil and now you are with Jesus and live for Him - - you are delivered. I have heard people who once was an ex-something now criticize and harshly judge others. Don't say anything or point the finger at them because your past is now their future and remember someone said the same things about you when you were in the same territory. Therefore, think before you speak and give thanks to God for your deliverance as you pray for the deliverance of others. Because that once was your present which is now your yesterday and people do remember. So encourage the people who are presently living your yesterday to strive towards the escape God has provided for them. Allow deliverance to be evident in their lives like God allowed it to be in yours. Food for thought: Deliverance is key.

Man meets woman and woman chooses man

When two people are involved in a relationship, be it man meets woman or woman meets man, and children are involved, they are part of the family package. They should be embraced, loved, and respected. If a woman meets a man with children that are not biologically hers or vice versa each party will be responsible for accepting those non-biological children as their own, responsibly assisting in raising them and teaching them right from wrong; and agreeing on the terms of punishment for the disobedient child. However, parents must not allow the children to play one parent against the other. If the answer is no then both parents must stand firmly on no. If this cannot be established then neither party has any business even being life partners or developing a relationship point blank. Just food for thought: Remember, it is all about the relationship, family values and pushing the children to be successful, functioning educated citizens.

A mover and a shaker

We've all been in deep conversations in different group settings. ... all male, all female, or a mixture of the two. Let's say the topic of conversation is about the troubled relationship of one of the group members; some members of the group had no comment, some said what they thought was best for the "hurting", and there were some that said "pray and ask God". All of the comments at the moment appeared to soothe the hurting. If the shoe was on my foot, I would pay strict attention to the one that had no comment at all. Reason being, most of the ones who are giving advice and commenting are the ones who are most likely going through the exact same thing and won't take their own advice. At times it has been a known fact that the one who has no comment has been through it, picked up the pieces of their life, dropped the burden that was bringing them down, and moved on, and it shows in their body language. I consider this person to be a mover and a shaker. They took no advice and gave no advice. Somehow they carefully evaluated their situation, and mounted up with wings like an eagle with an "I can show you better than I can tell you" mentality. This is why they had no comment in reference to the current situation. This is food for thought: Be a mover and a shaker! You will come out better.