Stop Playing

Stop Playing

Andy Stanley wrote from his devotional; Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets, “People yielded to God don’t attempt to play God. They don’t predict outcomes. Instead, they surrender. They obey. They follow. As much as they want anything they want to be able to lie in bed at night knowing that things are good between them and their Heavenly Father.” 

I know that we live in a world full of different people. I also know that some of our differences are all that some of those people are going to see. Some are going to embrace and appreciate the differences, and unfortunately, some of those people are going to reject and hate you just because of those differences. 

How you love or treat someone should not be dependent on how they treat you or other people, it should be based upon how God treats you and has instructed you. 

People may abandon you, exclude you from their lives, and become very cold towards you, but God will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV). Forsake... what’s does that mean? It means that He will give you the space that you ask for, but promised not to leave you, and then give up on, reject, turn His back on, or disown you. Even when we turn our backs on Him He has never stopped being their for us, especially when we call on Him wholeheartedly. 

So stop playing God, stop playing the victim. Stop playing like you can see things clearly when you aren’t even looking. Be true to Him, be true to yourself, and turn it all over to Him. The picture is much clearer when we look at it in Supernatural faith, rather than with natural sight. 

Peace, blessings, and joy... 

Love Thy Who?

KKK billboard says, 'It's not racist' http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2015/01/01/dnt-billboard-causes-controversy.kolr.html

This billboard is like having Rush Limbaugh doing a remake of "Do The Right Thing," (a Spike Lee movie), make it concerning his own version of race relations within his hometown, and calling it, "Do The Right Wing." 

Instead of Public Enemy doing the theme song of "Fight the Power," it'd be Public Enema doing "White's the Power."

Imperfectly thinking here we go:

Love thy neighbor as thyself, unless they're not your people. Thats how that goes, correct? Is it fair, or just to say too, that that's not racist? 

Forgive the imperfect one, Lord, but I missed the latter half of that verse in Your Holy Word. So to whom should the imperfect Christian call his people? Everyone?! Wow! Even those that don't act like they know that they too belong to You, Lord? Ok, the imperfect loves all people just not all of some people's ways. The imperfect one praises You for the lesson Holy One, and now apartheid (of the imperfect Christian's soul, mind, and body), is dead and freedom is much more abound. Thank You. 

Do You Love Your Children?

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/failing-student-wears-sign-as-punishment-28585171.html

The NCAA didn't suspend Brazilian, 7' footer, Fab Melo, the Cuse did. Do you think his mother cursed out Coach Boeheim, or Syracuse? Or does she feel shamed by Fab's choices that led to his suspension?

You think taking a phone, or grounding your kid from playing basketball until his grades come up is harsh and unusual punishment? Take a look at the video.

It's a shame that a mother will not let her 3rd grader play in any sports, but will allow her 5th grader to do whatever. It is also a shame that she was too busy for one son to take him to practice or to games, but had plenty of time to ask a relative to take the oldest child to wherever the eldest needed to go, and then have the nerve too ask his father where he had been over the years. The father is wondering why volunteering at their son's school in grade school, and getting his transcripts lined up for high school, and helping him with his school work during both accounts, counts for nothing? Wait a minute... is this the same mother that swore that she'd "NEVER" let her son go to school in the same county in which his father lived? Why yes it is. This is also the same mother that told her son in front of his father, and several of her son's friends that it was ok to lessen his standards and fall back and away from achieving greatness academically. How do you think she would react to her son being taught a lesson, like the young man in the video? Apparently this father cares too. I wonder if the father in the video was told that he was being too hard on his son? I am guessing not. What's so sad about the situation with the son, that had the mother that "ENCOURAGED" him publicly to settle for mediocrity, is that her son had been on the A-B Honor Roll for the first time after moving in with his maternal grandmother, with a more than watchful eye from his father. The father encouraged him by means of incentive. Gave him a cell phone, signed for him to play football, and went to "EVERY" game, and school function. He asked then (legitimately), wonder where his mother is?

"Not everyone can be on the A Honor Roll..." Wonder what would happen if someone told the kid in the video that? Wonder what would happen to that valedictorian that was told that? We he/she drop out of school? Would he/she get petty jobs living check to check? Would he/she settle for getting his girlfriend/becoming pregnant in high school, never go to college, and work for a corporation itching to replace him/her, just before he/she could draw a pension? How can anyone live with themselves after pretty much telling their child that it's OK to settle for mediocrity!? Literally telling that child that they are not smart enough to be a good student and make good grades? Especially when that child after moving away from that mother and moving in with his maternal grandmother with the help of his father, had just achieved his first time ever being on the A-B Honor Roll. When you're not a thinker it seems to come very easy! Why would a parent tell their child this in front of anyone, or in private for that matter to their child!? Hmmm maybe because the parent that accused the other of not doing anything wasn't there, or smart enough away from there, to know any better?

To any young man looking to find a life partner, please, please, please take heed... make certain that your partner, and hopefully life long mate (spouse to be) can put legs on a coffee table properly, spell your name properly, and treats you properly even when you're not around. Most importantly, make sure she can treat your child well and take care of him/her if anything ever happens to you! Make sure she is true to what she says she is. If she says she's a Christian, don't settle for hearing that she is a Christian, witness it in every way, or stop and walk away while you still have the choice! I can't emphasize enough important it is that she is a woman that you can trust your child with if you die, because some day she may drive you to your grave, or the Lord may call you home earlier than you or anyone else anticipated. Not being able to help your child maintain a proper course, because of domestic separation, and difference is a horrible, horrible life for you, and your child. Choose wisely! Whom you choose as a partner to pro-create with, could be like mistaking gasoline or leaded paint for the apple juice or milk that was "supposed" to go into his/her bottle. Not everything is a sure shot, but a definite no go, should be just that... a no go! Healthy formula, or deadly poison? You make the call. God bless the father, and son in the above video, hopefully their journey will be one that is cherished, and appreciated by both!

I hope this blog doesn't send a message of "let me correct my child before the Department of Corrections does." I hope instead it sends a message that inspires you to say, "let me raise and inspire my child(ren) to rise to greatness, and be self disciplined enough to avoid needing correction!"