My cousin Maurice's dog, Gizmo. Love him!
14 years ago
What's the deal with the star?
"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit." Rev. 9:1
Everyone knows what a star is, but do you know what the star means? For us here at StarChild, it signifies greatness. Purpose. Our story has already been written and we are merely actors playing our dutiful role. We are the ones who help give life meaning. We are the ones who equate being “normal” with mediocrity. We are the ones that sacrifice on behalf of the better good. We go against the grain. We are the remnant. We are the chosen. Our light shines bright so that a people years away can still see it. Even once we’ve burned out. We are creating our mark. We are living legends. We validate one another. We help one another rise. We are the fearless. We are the believers in Christ. We ARE StarChild.
"Shunned mediocrity to master great / Stay true to myself like a virgin that won't even masturbate." - Deana Dean
Everyone knows what a star is, but do you know what the star means? For us here at StarChild, it signifies greatness. Purpose. Our story has already been written and we are merely actors playing our dutiful role. We are the ones who help give life meaning. We are the ones who equate being “normal” with mediocrity. We are the ones that sacrifice on behalf of the better good. We go against the grain. We are the remnant. We are the chosen. Our light shines bright so that a people years away can still see it. Even once we’ve burned out. We are creating our mark. We are living legends. We validate one another. We help one another rise. We are the fearless. We are the believers in Christ. We ARE StarChild.
"Shunned mediocrity to master great / Stay true to myself like a virgin that won't even masturbate." - Deana Dean
Final Plea for 2009
2009 was the year of judgment. A year when we were numerically admonished to make serious judgment calls within our lives. This was a year to take the magnifying glass of self reflection and examine friendships, relationships, business choices, career, financial matters, residency, and other pertinent areas of our lives.
Imagine yourself as a judge; black robe, gavel and all. And envision your job (you know, the one you hate going to?) standing before you, pleading its case as to why you should stay. Do the pros outweigh the cons? Or is the only pro a steady paycheck? Is this job growing you as a person? Or is it stifling your spirit? If the majority of the questions you ask of your job result in an overtly negative response, it’s time to come to grips with the fact that the gavel has already been banged and it’s been found guilty.
But as judge of your own situation, final sentencing rests in your hands. You can allow justice to continue to be perverted in your life, and give it a slap on the wrist sentence in spite of its guilt (i.e. investing another 9 years of your life working there). Or you can throw the book at it and quit tomorrow (which might be considered a harsh and irrational sentencing). The key thing to remember: the choice is yours. You and God alone are the judge AND jury. It’s not so much about making the “right” choice or the “wrong” choice. What seems to be the right decision today can become one of the worst decisions you ever made when you look back on it 10 years from now. But God honors our free will. He allows us the freedom to make choices, and then manages our decision through His grace and mercy. So that even when we make “dumb” decisions, more often than not we come out unscathed, unharmed, wiser and bubbling with a testimony we can share to help others.
Now some judgment calls will be pretty cut and dry. Or they should be at least. If you’re questioning whether or not to stay involved with your married lover or if you should stop stealing from the job you hate before you get caught, let me help you with that one. Any situation that does not align with the Word of God won’t prosper and will only bring about confusion. The longer you take to call a spade a spade is the more time you spend stuck in that situation, further diverting your attention away from your own greatness. The hardest of the judgments to make, in my opinion, is that of friendships and close relationships. Co-dependency, past history and feelings of indebtedness oftentimes prevent us from seeing people as they truly are. Our misguided heart doesn’t want to accept the fact that, in order to go to the next level, we must leave some people behind. It might be a manipulative parent, it could be an obsessively negative pal, it could be the significant other who takes you for granted, or the dream killer who never supports anything you do. And although toxic relationships are a hindrance, how do you tell your dad or best friend since childhood to basically, “kick rocks?”
The answer: you don’t.
What I’ve learned in my ___ years of life is that spewing off at the mouth to someone about how much they suck is hardly ever beneficial. It’s not your job to judge the person, but it is your responsibility to judge how the person is impacting your life.
Instead of seeing yourself as the judge now, see yourself as a lawyer. Put this “friend” or “relative” on trial and see if the evidence proves he is really an asset to your life. Don’t give in to the fallacy of history; believing that since they “used to be” pro-you, you still owe them your friendship. Maybe they cleaned up your puke that time you got drunk and hurled on yourself when you turned 21. Or when you were facing eviction, they let you crash on their couch. Or 3 years ago you two had a baby together. While all of these accomplishments got kudos at the time, the fact remains that those were your glory days and they really haven’t done anything noteworthy since.
True, God blessed you to have a baby via this woman, but if she’s not who you plan to spend the rest of your life with, why continue to have sex with her? And yes, they may have cleaned up your puke so long ago, but ever since then their actions toward you have made you feel like you want to vomit. Think about it like this: if the peach tree in your backyard only bore fruit for 2 years and then stopped, how good of a peach tree would it be? What if you sold peaches and your livelihood depended on this tree? Would you let it remain because of sentimental value? Or would you cut it down and make way for new peach trees?
The beautiful thing about this whole friendship judgment process is that the hardest part is simply admitting to yourself that you need to cut them loose. Once you have come to grips with that decision, simply begin to distance yourself from them. No need to make a grand announcement that you and this person are no longer cool. No need to post blogs on facebook and myspace declaring your independence from (or hatred of) this person. By simply backing off from you and this person’s usual routine, they’ll get the hint. Worst case scenario, they’ll confront you as to why you are acting unfamiliar. Best case scenario, they won’t even notice the change in you until you have fully accepted the change yourself.
Whatever the case, it is not too late to make 2009 more than a lukewarm year. Choose wisely the situations and people you plan to roll with.
Although our lives have already been written, it is up to us to turn the pages.
The key thing to remember: the choice is yours.
...And you deserve what you accept.
NEVER AGAIN IN 2010!
Imagine yourself as a judge; black robe, gavel and all. And envision your job (you know, the one you hate going to?) standing before you, pleading its case as to why you should stay. Do the pros outweigh the cons? Or is the only pro a steady paycheck? Is this job growing you as a person? Or is it stifling your spirit? If the majority of the questions you ask of your job result in an overtly negative response, it’s time to come to grips with the fact that the gavel has already been banged and it’s been found guilty.
But as judge of your own situation, final sentencing rests in your hands. You can allow justice to continue to be perverted in your life, and give it a slap on the wrist sentence in spite of its guilt (i.e. investing another 9 years of your life working there). Or you can throw the book at it and quit tomorrow (which might be considered a harsh and irrational sentencing). The key thing to remember: the choice is yours. You and God alone are the judge AND jury. It’s not so much about making the “right” choice or the “wrong” choice. What seems to be the right decision today can become one of the worst decisions you ever made when you look back on it 10 years from now. But God honors our free will. He allows us the freedom to make choices, and then manages our decision through His grace and mercy. So that even when we make “dumb” decisions, more often than not we come out unscathed, unharmed, wiser and bubbling with a testimony we can share to help others.
Now some judgment calls will be pretty cut and dry. Or they should be at least. If you’re questioning whether or not to stay involved with your married lover or if you should stop stealing from the job you hate before you get caught, let me help you with that one. Any situation that does not align with the Word of God won’t prosper and will only bring about confusion. The longer you take to call a spade a spade is the more time you spend stuck in that situation, further diverting your attention away from your own greatness. The hardest of the judgments to make, in my opinion, is that of friendships and close relationships. Co-dependency, past history and feelings of indebtedness oftentimes prevent us from seeing people as they truly are. Our misguided heart doesn’t want to accept the fact that, in order to go to the next level, we must leave some people behind. It might be a manipulative parent, it could be an obsessively negative pal, it could be the significant other who takes you for granted, or the dream killer who never supports anything you do. And although toxic relationships are a hindrance, how do you tell your dad or best friend since childhood to basically, “kick rocks?”
The answer: you don’t.
What I’ve learned in my ___ years of life is that spewing off at the mouth to someone about how much they suck is hardly ever beneficial. It’s not your job to judge the person, but it is your responsibility to judge how the person is impacting your life.
Instead of seeing yourself as the judge now, see yourself as a lawyer. Put this “friend” or “relative” on trial and see if the evidence proves he is really an asset to your life. Don’t give in to the fallacy of history; believing that since they “used to be” pro-you, you still owe them your friendship. Maybe they cleaned up your puke that time you got drunk and hurled on yourself when you turned 21. Or when you were facing eviction, they let you crash on their couch. Or 3 years ago you two had a baby together. While all of these accomplishments got kudos at the time, the fact remains that those were your glory days and they really haven’t done anything noteworthy since.
True, God blessed you to have a baby via this woman, but if she’s not who you plan to spend the rest of your life with, why continue to have sex with her? And yes, they may have cleaned up your puke so long ago, but ever since then their actions toward you have made you feel like you want to vomit. Think about it like this: if the peach tree in your backyard only bore fruit for 2 years and then stopped, how good of a peach tree would it be? What if you sold peaches and your livelihood depended on this tree? Would you let it remain because of sentimental value? Or would you cut it down and make way for new peach trees?
The beautiful thing about this whole friendship judgment process is that the hardest part is simply admitting to yourself that you need to cut them loose. Once you have come to grips with that decision, simply begin to distance yourself from them. No need to make a grand announcement that you and this person are no longer cool. No need to post blogs on facebook and myspace declaring your independence from (or hatred of) this person. By simply backing off from you and this person’s usual routine, they’ll get the hint. Worst case scenario, they’ll confront you as to why you are acting unfamiliar. Best case scenario, they won’t even notice the change in you until you have fully accepted the change yourself.
Whatever the case, it is not too late to make 2009 more than a lukewarm year. Choose wisely the situations and people you plan to roll with.
Although our lives have already been written, it is up to us to turn the pages.
The key thing to remember: the choice is yours.
...And you deserve what you accept.
NEVER AGAIN IN 2010!
B.da Oso-ism...
"There are two things which cannot die. That which is already dead, and that which refuses to die."
As if anybody asked me...
I don't believe in anger. Maybe I shouldn't say don't believe. Maybe I should say I don't subscribe to it. Anger, as viewed by moi, is a mix of other lesser emotions. Hurt, disappointment, embarrassment, not getting your way...when I feel angry, I take a minute and ask myself, "What am I really feeling?" That gives me the opportunity to process what I'm really feeling, and then act from a more rational place.
Anger has never moved me. And as long as I continue to view it from this standpoint, it never shall.
Not that anyone asked me, but I just thought I'd share.
B.da Oso signing out.
Peace.
Anger has never moved me. And as long as I continue to view it from this standpoint, it never shall.
Not that anyone asked me, but I just thought I'd share.
B.da Oso signing out.
Peace.
NEVER MISS AN ISSUE OF STARCHILD
Overheard....
"The words of a person with more hurt more than the words of a person with less." A.Muhammad
The Re-Education of B.da Oso...
I thought I was saved before
But I was fooling myself
Thought I was ruling myself
To the chagrin of my soul’s health
Baptized in the lake of fire
Faith refined like pure gold
Don’t need man to validate me
I AM THAT I AM has made me whole
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
Is my soul necessity
And the time has come for me to proclaim
Just how awesome God can really be
It’s all about relationship
Religion is not the place where I dwell
Treat me like a child with no understanding
Feed me milk and I suck titty
All the way to hell
The onus is on me to prove I am able
That I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me
No longer looking outside myself to find God
I’m walking in the knowledge that His spirit dwells in me
I have radical beliefs
I serve a radical God
The land of milk and honey is filling me to the brim
I’m operating in a New Jerusalem state of mind
2010
Is the rebirth of I…
Through HIM
But I was fooling myself
Thought I was ruling myself
To the chagrin of my soul’s health
Baptized in the lake of fire
Faith refined like pure gold
Don’t need man to validate me
I AM THAT I AM has made me whole
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
Is my soul necessity
And the time has come for me to proclaim
Just how awesome God can really be
It’s all about relationship
Religion is not the place where I dwell
Treat me like a child with no understanding
Feed me milk and I suck titty
All the way to hell
The onus is on me to prove I am able
That I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me
No longer looking outside myself to find God
I’m walking in the knowledge that His spirit dwells in me
I have radical beliefs
I serve a radical God
The land of milk and honey is filling me to the brim
I’m operating in a New Jerusalem state of mind
2010
Is the rebirth of I…
Through HIM
As soon as yesterday
He sleeps. I am wide awake (now). I spend each day trying to will him into my dreams. I know eventually he will make a re-appearance, but the impatience that cloaks my heart in iniquity, wants him as soon as yesterday.
Was he perfect? No. Was our love perfected? Indeed. When all was said and done, we had come full circle, entertaining one another as we had on day one.
Life hands individuals so many lemons, and eventually you get tired of making lemonade. We decided to take the lemons of life and create apple cider. We smiled knowingly at one another when people ask how do we do it.
This is the love I dream of. This is the love I long for. This is the love I hope for.
And I see it in my dreams, even though now I am wide awake. I spend each day hoping to make this dream come true.
Eventually it will, as soon as yesterday.
Was he perfect? No. Was our love perfected? Indeed. When all was said and done, we had come full circle, entertaining one another as we had on day one.
Life hands individuals so many lemons, and eventually you get tired of making lemonade. We decided to take the lemons of life and create apple cider. We smiled knowingly at one another when people ask how do we do it.
This is the love I dream of. This is the love I long for. This is the love I hope for.
And I see it in my dreams, even though now I am wide awake. I spend each day hoping to make this dream come true.
Eventually it will, as soon as yesterday.
Beneficial Love
The night we met was the night our spirits had longed for. Our eyes locked and it was a wrap. Love at first sight? Or first sight of love?
I was Eve. He was Adam. And our spirits recognized one another and iron began to sharpen iron.
He made me want to be better. He loved me enough to want to be a better man.
We laughed often as we agreed that this right here was meant to be.
When he sleeps, I whisper sweet nothings in his ear:
"Greater is He that is in YOU than he that is in the world."
"Jehova is mi pastor." (Love will make you speak in tongues).
"The just shall live by faith."
"The meek shall inherit the earth."
"The kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."
I love on him, not for my sake, but for the sake of the destiny God has planted within him.
Whether we love for now or love forever, let's promise to be beneficial.
And the moment we cease to be beneficial, let's embrace the season that has ended and move forward, knowing, that there is a new season ahead.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to EVERY PURPOSE under the heaven"
Be peace. Be love.
B.da Oso StarChild
I was Eve. He was Adam. And our spirits recognized one another and iron began to sharpen iron.
He made me want to be better. He loved me enough to want to be a better man.
We laughed often as we agreed that this right here was meant to be.
When he sleeps, I whisper sweet nothings in his ear:
"Greater is He that is in YOU than he that is in the world."
"Jehova is mi pastor." (Love will make you speak in tongues).
"The just shall live by faith."
"The meek shall inherit the earth."
"The kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."
I love on him, not for my sake, but for the sake of the destiny God has planted within him.
Whether we love for now or love forever, let's promise to be beneficial.
And the moment we cease to be beneficial, let's embrace the season that has ended and move forward, knowing, that there is a new season ahead.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to EVERY PURPOSE under the heaven"
Be peace. Be love.
B.da Oso StarChild
Role Reversal
I think I can say this without negating my own humility: I'm a nice person. There. I said it. If life was a motion picture, I'd be the little fairy who went around with a magic wand, sprinkling fairy dust across the earth to make it a nicer, more loving place to live. I'd have on my pretty, pink tu-tu, and my rose colored glasses and would gently tap people with my startastic wand if I feel they needed a smile. That would be me. That would be the role I'd play.
And I've managed to play that role for 34 fun-filled years. And it is who I am. Like I said, I'm a nice person.
And you know what? For this season I am entering into; I'm not sure that nice is going to help us get to where we need to go.
So I'm apologizing in advance if you run up on me playing the bad guy. Know it's only a role and that at the bottom of my heart, there is love.
Afterall, I'm a nice person.
And I've managed to play that role for 34 fun-filled years. And it is who I am. Like I said, I'm a nice person.
And you know what? For this season I am entering into; I'm not sure that nice is going to help us get to where we need to go.
So I'm apologizing in advance if you run up on me playing the bad guy. Know it's only a role and that at the bottom of my heart, there is love.
Afterall, I'm a nice person.
If your vagina got dressed, what would it wear?
Ok, so I'm reading The Vagina Monologues, right? And one of the questions Eve Ensler (the author) asks some women is "If your vagina got dressed, what would it wear?"
So I allowed myself a couple of questions:
If your love got dressed, what would it wear?
Hmm...my love? I think it would wear an outfit that was subtle, comfortable, yet fierce. Showing curves, not cleavage. Purchased from Treasure Island, costing pennies yet priceless. Her jewelry and adornments would be the finest stones, the softest gold, and the clearest diamonds. Not all worn at the same time, mind you. This is what my love would wear.
If your faith got dressed, what would it wear?
My faith would wear a dirty beater, with JESUS' name written in blood on it. There would be dirt and grime on the bottom and 3 small holes in the back. I will have worn it faithfully over a long period of time and it will show that it has been worn in love. That is what my faith would wear.
If your trust got dressed, what would it wear?
(OUCH) Depends on who I'm being asked to trust. To some my trust would wear a black, pleather bodysuit, with a sword on one side in my belt and a small pocket Bible in my very tight pocket. To others my trust would have on a flowing white silk dress. Everytime the wind blew, the dress would gently sway with the breeze. But again, this depends on who we are talking about "my trust" getting dressed for.
If your anger got dressed, what would it wear?
DEFINITELY PAJAMAS!
(I'm silly...lol)
Ok, so allow yourself those same instances, same virtues / same vices. How would YOURS be dressed?
So I allowed myself a couple of questions:
If your love got dressed, what would it wear?
Hmm...my love? I think it would wear an outfit that was subtle, comfortable, yet fierce. Showing curves, not cleavage. Purchased from Treasure Island, costing pennies yet priceless. Her jewelry and adornments would be the finest stones, the softest gold, and the clearest diamonds. Not all worn at the same time, mind you. This is what my love would wear.
If your faith got dressed, what would it wear?
My faith would wear a dirty beater, with JESUS' name written in blood on it. There would be dirt and grime on the bottom and 3 small holes in the back. I will have worn it faithfully over a long period of time and it will show that it has been worn in love. That is what my faith would wear.
If your trust got dressed, what would it wear?
(OUCH) Depends on who I'm being asked to trust. To some my trust would wear a black, pleather bodysuit, with a sword on one side in my belt and a small pocket Bible in my very tight pocket. To others my trust would have on a flowing white silk dress. Everytime the wind blew, the dress would gently sway with the breeze. But again, this depends on who we are talking about "my trust" getting dressed for.
If your anger got dressed, what would it wear?
DEFINITELY PAJAMAS!
(I'm silly...lol)
Ok, so allow yourself those same instances, same virtues / same vices. How would YOURS be dressed?
New Jerusalem State of Mind
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Rev. 21:2
This time last year I began planning my wedding. Had my ring picked out, wardrobe, music, feel. The only thing that was missing was the groom.
I realize now that when we prophesy, we prophesy in part and we understand in part.
And I only understood God's vision for my life...in part. In seeing my wedding, I longed to see my "husband". In thinking I found my husband, I put my dreams in a box. Limiting myself. Stifling myself. But more importantly, limiting God.
2009 saw me realizing that my currency was LOVE. Not a bad currency to have, but I dare someone go in Bloomingdales and try and buy something with "LOVE" as their only credit card. It's a beautiful and intricate currency, but the fact is, it is not accepted everywhere.
In 2010 my currency shall be the one that is accepted from Okinawa to Venezuela. Wealth, in the form of colorful bills, the likes of which I haven't ever seen. They shall flood my bank accounts, they shall feel good always in my hands. They shall come. They shall go. "Money is mine, wealth is mine," I hear the me who's already seen 2010 happily tell me. And I am gladdened and my heart leaps. I am able to thank Him in advance.
The dream:
I had a dream a few months ago and in the dream I was a teacup and liquid poured into me from above, making me overflow. Beside me to my left and right were each 6 teacups. And as my teacup overflowed, it began to flow into the cups of those to the side of me.
The liquid, poured in love, given FROM love, was currency. Accepted from the Grand Caymans to Bermuda to Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
The New Jerusalem is upon me. And 10/10/10 I'm having the party of a lifetime. Actually it will begin 10/5/10.
Feel free to RSVP now, for the New Jerusalem Party is IN FULL EFFECT.
This time last year I began planning my wedding. Had my ring picked out, wardrobe, music, feel. The only thing that was missing was the groom.
I realize now that when we prophesy, we prophesy in part and we understand in part.
And I only understood God's vision for my life...in part. In seeing my wedding, I longed to see my "husband". In thinking I found my husband, I put my dreams in a box. Limiting myself. Stifling myself. But more importantly, limiting God.
2009 saw me realizing that my currency was LOVE. Not a bad currency to have, but I dare someone go in Bloomingdales and try and buy something with "LOVE" as their only credit card. It's a beautiful and intricate currency, but the fact is, it is not accepted everywhere.
In 2010 my currency shall be the one that is accepted from Okinawa to Venezuela. Wealth, in the form of colorful bills, the likes of which I haven't ever seen. They shall flood my bank accounts, they shall feel good always in my hands. They shall come. They shall go. "Money is mine, wealth is mine," I hear the me who's already seen 2010 happily tell me. And I am gladdened and my heart leaps. I am able to thank Him in advance.
The dream:
I had a dream a few months ago and in the dream I was a teacup and liquid poured into me from above, making me overflow. Beside me to my left and right were each 6 teacups. And as my teacup overflowed, it began to flow into the cups of those to the side of me.
The liquid, poured in love, given FROM love, was currency. Accepted from the Grand Caymans to Bermuda to Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
The New Jerusalem is upon me. And 10/10/10 I'm having the party of a lifetime. Actually it will begin 10/5/10.
Feel free to RSVP now, for the New Jerusalem Party is IN FULL EFFECT.
trip into the wilderness
In the wilderness, following hard after God (or what I think is God). Enticed by the lusts of the flesh, I scurry on. Trying hard to keep up with the bright and beautiful ray of light before me.
I finally catch up to the light, and when I touch it, it burns me and tries to leave me for dead. "The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy", I hear a voice remind me. Realizing I was following after fools gold, I cry and beat myself over the head for being so, being so, being so dumb.
After my temper tantrum is over, I realize I'm stuck in the middle of a thicket, with no one now to lead me. I question what got me here. I question what I was following. I question if the path I'm even on is the right one. I ram my head into a tree to compensate for my stupidity. My head begins bleeding heavily and I've given myself a headache. I'm lost in a thicket (a wilderness) and I don't know where I'm going or how to get out.
I'm 2 seconds away from panicking when a dove lands in the tree beside me. I try not to pay it any attention, but it looks odd (and beautiful) amid the thorns and bushels that surround me on every side.
"What's the matter?" the dove asks me.
"I think I made the wrong decision. I think I followed the devil here. He was on the path in front of me and he enticed me and lead me to this place. I'm afraid I've disappointed God; and even more afraid I'm lost."
"Doesn't really matter if you followed the devil here" says the dove, knowingly. "at the end of the day, it is God who owns the wilderness."
(Safe)
I finally catch up to the light, and when I touch it, it burns me and tries to leave me for dead. "The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy", I hear a voice remind me. Realizing I was following after fools gold, I cry and beat myself over the head for being so, being so, being so dumb.
After my temper tantrum is over, I realize I'm stuck in the middle of a thicket, with no one now to lead me. I question what got me here. I question what I was following. I question if the path I'm even on is the right one. I ram my head into a tree to compensate for my stupidity. My head begins bleeding heavily and I've given myself a headache. I'm lost in a thicket (a wilderness) and I don't know where I'm going or how to get out.
I'm 2 seconds away from panicking when a dove lands in the tree beside me. I try not to pay it any attention, but it looks odd (and beautiful) amid the thorns and bushels that surround me on every side.
"What's the matter?" the dove asks me.
"I think I made the wrong decision. I think I followed the devil here. He was on the path in front of me and he enticed me and lead me to this place. I'm afraid I've disappointed God; and even more afraid I'm lost."
"Doesn't really matter if you followed the devil here" says the dove, knowingly. "at the end of the day, it is God who owns the wilderness."
(Safe)
Startastic thought of the day...
When your life is on course with its purpose, you are your most powerful. You may stumble, but you will not fall, and you surely will not fail.
Thought for the day...
It is hard to fight for what you believe in, but hard is never a reason not to fight.
Question of the day...
QUESTION: What wilderness experience has helped you see your gifts more clearly?
The wilderness experience that has helped me see my God given gifts more clearly would have to be voluntarily leaving "the pulpit". After accepting my call to the ministry in 2001, it wasn't long before I began to feel highly uncomfortable speaking from the pulpit. For one, I always considered myself to be a better writer than a speaker. I always wanted to type out my sermon notes and pass them out after service.
Eventually, I backed away from the pulpit and plummeted into a wilderness space. It was within this space however, that I found my voice. And my voice was best heard when I put pen to paper (or phalanges to keyboard). StarChild was created from this space. Courage to be a CEO and entrepreneur was found within this space. And a Godfidence unlike any I ever knew, was found within this space.
I think when a person is lead into the wilderness unknowingly, it's not necessarily a good thing. But when a person willingly takes on an assignment to go in the wilderness, all kinds of wondrous things are bound to sprout from the adventure.
The wilderness experience that has helped me see my God given gifts more clearly would have to be voluntarily leaving "the pulpit". After accepting my call to the ministry in 2001, it wasn't long before I began to feel highly uncomfortable speaking from the pulpit. For one, I always considered myself to be a better writer than a speaker. I always wanted to type out my sermon notes and pass them out after service.
Eventually, I backed away from the pulpit and plummeted into a wilderness space. It was within this space however, that I found my voice. And my voice was best heard when I put pen to paper (or phalanges to keyboard). StarChild was created from this space. Courage to be a CEO and entrepreneur was found within this space. And a Godfidence unlike any I ever knew, was found within this space.
I think when a person is lead into the wilderness unknowingly, it's not necessarily a good thing. But when a person willingly takes on an assignment to go in the wilderness, all kinds of wondrous things are bound to sprout from the adventure.
The star defeats the serpent
I had a dream last night that I had a snake for a pet. He was hungry and got loose from his dwellings, in search of food. He came across my body and slithered and bit me. His bite did not sting, but his venom did. It did not kill me however.
Right before he died, the snake tried in vain to squeeze the life out of me. He failed utterly, crumpled up and died a horrible death.
When I awoke from my dream state, all I could think was how nasty and icky the snake felt around my body. Even as I type this, I can still feel it's dry as bone scales covering me and trying to squeeze for dear life.
I always did focus on the wrong things. Instead of finding strength in the fact that his venom did not harm me, or that his bite alone did not hurt me, or even that after he tried his very last attempt at trying to take me down by squeezing me, I still survived and he died, all I could think as I awoke from this dream was, "Ugh, that felt so icky!"
I am realizing as I type this that both dreams and life are not about how you feel, but how you react to what is going on. What do you hold in higher esteem, the stimuli that was presented to you or how YOU reacted TO the stimuli?
What part of your dreams are you focusing on? Are you even dreaming anymore? That's an even more important question.
Right before he died, the snake tried in vain to squeeze the life out of me. He failed utterly, crumpled up and died a horrible death.
When I awoke from my dream state, all I could think was how nasty and icky the snake felt around my body. Even as I type this, I can still feel it's dry as bone scales covering me and trying to squeeze for dear life.
I always did focus on the wrong things. Instead of finding strength in the fact that his venom did not harm me, or that his bite alone did not hurt me, or even that after he tried his very last attempt at trying to take me down by squeezing me, I still survived and he died, all I could think as I awoke from this dream was, "Ugh, that felt so icky!"
I am realizing as I type this that both dreams and life are not about how you feel, but how you react to what is going on. What do you hold in higher esteem, the stimuli that was presented to you or how YOU reacted TO the stimuli?
What part of your dreams are you focusing on? Are you even dreaming anymore? That's an even more important question.
On an all about Eve note...
In an effort to empower my sisters (and myself) I'm taking a journey through the Bible and noting all of the women in there and what we can learn from them. The journey begins with Eve, the first woman. Mother of the beginning, and official scapegoat.
The first thing most people think when they hear the name Eve is "aint she the broad who bit the apple?"
First off, sweeties, it wasn't an apple, it was fruit. (Gen.3:6)
Secondly, they both ate of the fruit. Just so happens, Eve ate first.
It's a shame and a disservice to women everywhere to write her off negatively because of this happenstance.
My takeaway from good old Eve is that she knew what to do or say to persuade her husband. As a helpmeet, that is a PLUS! A wife SHOULD know how to get her husband to say yes. What she is getting him to say "yes" to, however, is what's more important. Is it yes to HER will, God's will, or something he wants to do anyway, but needs assurance in that area?
What is it that you want your HUSBAND to say yes to? And if he's not your husband, what steps are you taking to get him to say YES (or "I do") to you?
The first thing most people think when they hear the name Eve is "aint she the broad who bit the apple?"
First off, sweeties, it wasn't an apple, it was fruit. (Gen.3:6)
Secondly, they both ate of the fruit. Just so happens, Eve ate first.
It's a shame and a disservice to women everywhere to write her off negatively because of this happenstance.
My takeaway from good old Eve is that she knew what to do or say to persuade her husband. As a helpmeet, that is a PLUS! A wife SHOULD know how to get her husband to say yes. What she is getting him to say "yes" to, however, is what's more important. Is it yes to HER will, God's will, or something he wants to do anyway, but needs assurance in that area?
What is it that you want your HUSBAND to say yes to? And if he's not your husband, what steps are you taking to get him to say YES (or "I do") to you?
Startastic thought for the day (ok, night)
When your life is on course with its purpose, you are your most powerful. You may stumble, but you will not fall, and you surely will not fail.
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