In this day and age, with the economic struggles as well as the unemployment rate rising, houses foreclosing, etc., it becomes quite easy to only focus on self. It's easy for us to simply say "We can't afford..." or "I just don't have..." But I dare to challenge that mindset.
The clinched fist doesn't give, but at the same time, a clinched fist can't receive either, we have to open our hands up. Giving is the quickest way not just to be blessed, but giving is the quickest way to receive joy within yourself, one of the quickest I should say, the only thing better than being blessed is being in the position to bless someone else. It's contrary to our nature not to be selfish, but selfishness will only plunge you further into shortage and debt. Always remember, there is always someone in a much worse situation that you are in.
Even though you may be short on cash or low on funds, or trying to figure out how to make ends meet, don't allow your situations to keep you from sowing into others who are in need. Sowing doesn't always mean money either, sometimes you need to sow your time, sow a listening ear, sow good advice into someone, it isn't always about the financial. But at the same time, sometimes sowing financially does help. It's not about the amount that you sow, but the heart that you sow with. If you're going to give with an attitude, keep it, because then it was done in vain.
Yes these are difficult times, but we still have to remember that when we're in the position to help others, we are obligated to help them. We can't progress together if we're constantly pulling down other people and not helping others to get up. God loves a cheerful giver, not only that, but He blesses the giver with more than they even gave. But if you're heart isn't in the right place, then you are giving in vain. Vain giving is not blessed, nor is hypocritical giving, simply doing it to be seen.
Even today in the church, people are refusing to tithe what is required of them, which allows the devourer to attack their finances and wonder why they struggle financially. YOU CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO TITHE, it's only ten percent of your earnings, God even allows you to keep the other ninety percent. Not only that, but the money that you make isn't yours anyway, everything in this world belongs to God, He's just allowing it to be in our possession, but He's trusting us to give back what is rightfully His. He doesn't need it, it's just the principle through which He chooses to bless us.
So please, I urge you all, don't have a clinched fist, help others, freely you have received, so freely give. You can't reap anything if you don't sow anything, and what you sow is what you will reap.
Adios, yup yup!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
What Do You See?
As time goes on, television continues to get worse and worse. Years back, there were certain things that you just wouldn't put on the television, but now, slowly but surely, these tv shows are pushing the limit more and more until we get to that point where you'll pretty much have TV nearly completely uncensored. Some of these stations show nothing but junk! Some of these stations paint a false picture of what life is really about, stressing nothing but the glitz and glamour. The younger kids growing up now in most cases are raised by the television rather than their parents, this is a big no-no.
Black Entertainment Television, or BET as we all know it, continues to plunge deeper and deeper into foolishness and into mess. A lot of things shown on BET honestly portray African Americans in a negative light, from certain videos that are shown, to certain TV shows that air, even to the movies that BET chooses to air on the station, there isn't too much positive being shown in the community of African Americans. A lot of these music videos portray us as nothing but wild party thrill seekers with loose promiscuous women, chasing the fast lane 24/7. A lot of the movies shown on BET portray blacks as violent, always living the savage life, and not having any good sense whatsoever! EVERYBODY DOESN'T NEED A REALITY SHOW, some people need to keep their business in house until they handle their business. Is everything that BET shows bad? No, not everything, but a lot of things that are shown just need to be cut out! It doesn't help that a lot of African Americans live up to the stereotypes placed upon us, but BET isn't helping the issue! BUT, at the same time, BET somewhat mirrors a lot of what we place so much value on in our community, meaning we need to prioritize and evaluate our values.
We have to step it up, I was watching the BET Awards, certain things were alright, but then after a while, it began to sail right off of the cliff. I was so glad when they acknowledged successful people that had made it through school and had become doctors or people that came from being poor to becoming the mayor of their town, that was great! WE HAVE TO DO MORE OF THAT! Let's acknowledge successful men and women who are truly making differences, not just those that make the best video or those that made it rain in the club (which I still don't understand, even if we weren't in a recession, why toss your money?)
Let's focus on the truly important things and carry ourselves in a manner which is respectable and not foolishness. Am I saying that it's wrong to appreciate different art forms and be creative? NOT AT ALL! There's nothing wrong that, but it's about where your mind is and what comes out of you. Even in today's music, you all know that there are some artists out here that are talking about NOTHING BUT FOOLISHNESS. There are still some good artists, but then you have those that encourage and talk about the very things that destroy the community. So all I'm saying is, let's make sure we don't fall into the mold of stereotypes and truly become distinguished men and women of the future.
Adios, yup yup.
Black Entertainment Television, or BET as we all know it, continues to plunge deeper and deeper into foolishness and into mess. A lot of things shown on BET honestly portray African Americans in a negative light, from certain videos that are shown, to certain TV shows that air, even to the movies that BET chooses to air on the station, there isn't too much positive being shown in the community of African Americans. A lot of these music videos portray us as nothing but wild party thrill seekers with loose promiscuous women, chasing the fast lane 24/7. A lot of the movies shown on BET portray blacks as violent, always living the savage life, and not having any good sense whatsoever! EVERYBODY DOESN'T NEED A REALITY SHOW, some people need to keep their business in house until they handle their business. Is everything that BET shows bad? No, not everything, but a lot of things that are shown just need to be cut out! It doesn't help that a lot of African Americans live up to the stereotypes placed upon us, but BET isn't helping the issue! BUT, at the same time, BET somewhat mirrors a lot of what we place so much value on in our community, meaning we need to prioritize and evaluate our values.
We have to step it up, I was watching the BET Awards, certain things were alright, but then after a while, it began to sail right off of the cliff. I was so glad when they acknowledged successful people that had made it through school and had become doctors or people that came from being poor to becoming the mayor of their town, that was great! WE HAVE TO DO MORE OF THAT! Let's acknowledge successful men and women who are truly making differences, not just those that make the best video or those that made it rain in the club (which I still don't understand, even if we weren't in a recession, why toss your money?)
Let's focus on the truly important things and carry ourselves in a manner which is respectable and not foolishness. Am I saying that it's wrong to appreciate different art forms and be creative? NOT AT ALL! There's nothing wrong that, but it's about where your mind is and what comes out of you. Even in today's music, you all know that there are some artists out here that are talking about NOTHING BUT FOOLISHNESS. There are still some good artists, but then you have those that encourage and talk about the very things that destroy the community. So all I'm saying is, let's make sure we don't fall into the mold of stereotypes and truly become distinguished men and women of the future.
Adios, yup yup.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
On the Road to Dreams
This I can honestly say is the road that is less traveled. Why? Simply because, many people settle for less in the world today. There are so many people doing things that they honestly don't have a heart to do, and they're truly unhappy and living an unfulfilled life. You only live once, you have to make it count.
People, you have to dream big, and you have to think large. Don't keep your mind inside of a box, in the world that we live in today, this is an era where only the big dreamers and the go getters will make it. Don't let people tell you what you can and what you can't do. Nine times out of ten, the people that doubt you or the people that try to keep you down aren't doing anything major themselves. Those are usually the people that allowed their current situation to kill the dreams that they had inside of them. All of us have dreams or visions that we would love to accomplish, nothing is stopping you. Don't let family, finances, or anything stop you. Certain things may try to delay you, but don't let them stop you.
Everything in life happens for a reason, everything is a learning opportunity, every day that you are living, see it as a learning curve. So when you're stuck in a certain situation, understand that it isn't your final destination. Even when life hits you with trials and tribulations, don't allow them to change your mindset. Always keep your goals on your mind, and keep your vision in your focus so you can advance towards it.
There's so much more to life than just clocking into an eight to five every day and collecting a paycheck at the end of the week. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that, because you have to start somewhere, and you have to be productive while in pursuit of your dreams and what you desire to do. BUT, don't let your pursuit stop there. I'm simply encouraging you to go after what it is that is in your heart to do, don't settle for less, don't become content with what people say you are supposed to be. Follow your dreams and don't stop, but of course pray and seek God first, in all that you do. Sometimes we may chase things that are not always meant for us. Don't let anyone tell you that what you dream to do is impossible, and don't let anyone down you about your vision, they haven't envisioned it like you have. There are certain things that you can just see yourself doing so profoundly, you already know how you want to do it, you can almost smell it! LoL. But if you hang around habitual naysayers and people that are satisfied with being ordinary rather than seeking after the extraordinary, they will cause you to quench your dream and stay exactly where they are.
Evaluate your circle, make sure you keep yourself around some driven people, some go-getters, and those who want big things out of life, and are determined to get them. Keep negative people out of your circle. Make sure your mindset isn't set on where you come from, it doesn't matter where you come from, you have a chance and an opportunity. DON'T TELL EVERYONE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, meaning, you can't go around just letting everyone know what you've got planned, because some people will take it and pick it apart just to try and discourage you. Some people you just have to show them that you mean business. KEEP GOD FIRST, this is the most important part of being on the road to your dreams, don't let your desires in life outweight your desire for God, or else you can not go forward.
Please go out, follow your dreams, and make something happen! You aren't designed to live an unfulfilled life! Be blessed, adios.
People, you have to dream big, and you have to think large. Don't keep your mind inside of a box, in the world that we live in today, this is an era where only the big dreamers and the go getters will make it. Don't let people tell you what you can and what you can't do. Nine times out of ten, the people that doubt you or the people that try to keep you down aren't doing anything major themselves. Those are usually the people that allowed their current situation to kill the dreams that they had inside of them. All of us have dreams or visions that we would love to accomplish, nothing is stopping you. Don't let family, finances, or anything stop you. Certain things may try to delay you, but don't let them stop you.
Everything in life happens for a reason, everything is a learning opportunity, every day that you are living, see it as a learning curve. So when you're stuck in a certain situation, understand that it isn't your final destination. Even when life hits you with trials and tribulations, don't allow them to change your mindset. Always keep your goals on your mind, and keep your vision in your focus so you can advance towards it.
There's so much more to life than just clocking into an eight to five every day and collecting a paycheck at the end of the week. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that, because you have to start somewhere, and you have to be productive while in pursuit of your dreams and what you desire to do. BUT, don't let your pursuit stop there. I'm simply encouraging you to go after what it is that is in your heart to do, don't settle for less, don't become content with what people say you are supposed to be. Follow your dreams and don't stop, but of course pray and seek God first, in all that you do. Sometimes we may chase things that are not always meant for us. Don't let anyone tell you that what you dream to do is impossible, and don't let anyone down you about your vision, they haven't envisioned it like you have. There are certain things that you can just see yourself doing so profoundly, you already know how you want to do it, you can almost smell it! LoL. But if you hang around habitual naysayers and people that are satisfied with being ordinary rather than seeking after the extraordinary, they will cause you to quench your dream and stay exactly where they are.
Evaluate your circle, make sure you keep yourself around some driven people, some go-getters, and those who want big things out of life, and are determined to get them. Keep negative people out of your circle. Make sure your mindset isn't set on where you come from, it doesn't matter where you come from, you have a chance and an opportunity. DON'T TELL EVERYONE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, meaning, you can't go around just letting everyone know what you've got planned, because some people will take it and pick it apart just to try and discourage you. Some people you just have to show them that you mean business. KEEP GOD FIRST, this is the most important part of being on the road to your dreams, don't let your desires in life outweight your desire for God, or else you can not go forward.
Please go out, follow your dreams, and make something happen! You aren't designed to live an unfulfilled life! Be blessed, adios.
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