Daily Reading - "Good Planning and Insight...Bring...You Honor And Respect." Proverbs 3:21-22 NLT

Here is how it read today...

Tues. March 31
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"GOOD PLANNING AND INSIGHT...BRING...YOU HONOR AND RESPECT." (PROVERBS 3:21-22 NLT)
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Eight principles to live by

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People who set goals accomplishing much more than people of equal education and ability who don't. With that in mind, build these eight principles into your life.

........(1) Decide what you want. But first consult with God. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Pr 19:21 NIV). (2) Think on paper. Writing your goals down gives them a sense of permanency, plus it energizes you. "Good planning and insight...bring...honor and respect." Wishy-washy objectives won't get you where you want to go. (3) Establish a deadline. Without a definite beginning and ending it's easy to procrastinate and get nowhere. (4) Make a list of what you need to do to. Keep it before you at all times; it'll give you a track to run on. (5) Convert your list to a plan. Decide what you need to do first and what you can do later. An organized plan is always better than trying to carry stuff around in your head. (6) Act immediately. "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity" (Eph 5:15-16 NIV). Do something! A mediocre plan that's implemented beats a brilliant one that's not. (7) Do something every day to move you forward. Build into your schedule . For example, read systematically through your Bible, call a specific number of clients, engage in physical activity for a given time. (8) Have a goal you're willing to devote your life to. And keep your eye on that goal at all times. "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Ps 90:12 NIV).

Daily Reading - "He Saved Others; Himself He Cannot Save." Matthew 27:42

This is how it read today...

Mon. March 30
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"HE SAVED OTHERS; HIMSELF HE CANNOT SAVE." (MATTHEW 27:42)
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He chose to save you!

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When the pastor introduced the visiting speaker, an elderly preacher walked to the pulpit and told this story: "A father, his son, and his son's friend were sailing off the Pacific coast when a storm overturned their boat sweeping all of them into the ocean. Grabbing a rescue line, in a split second the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life - which boy to throw the other end to and which one to sacrifice. He knew his son had accepted Christ and his friend hadn't. Anguished, the father yelled, 'I love you son,' and threw the rope to his son's friend. By the time he'd pulled the boy back to the capsized boat his son had disappeared beneath the waves. His body was never recovered. The father knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and couldn't bear the thought of his friend facing eternity without Christ." At the end of the service a teenage boy approached the old man and said, "That's a nice story, but what father in his right mind would sacrifice his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian?" "You've got the point," the old preacher replied, "It's not realistic. But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse into what it must have been life for God to sacrifice His only Son for us. You see...I was that father, and your pastor was my son's friend."

.........The Pharisses who watched Christ die said, "He saved others; himself he cannot save." And they were right; He couldn't do both, so He chose to save you. Today will you accept His offer of salvation?

Daily Reading - "You Are The Salt Of The Earth." Matthew 5:13 NIV

Here is how it read today...

Fri. March 27
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"YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH." (MATTHEW 5:13 NIV)
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What are you called to do? (2)

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When God called Moses, one of the questions He asked him was, "What is that in your hand?" (Ex 4:2 NIV). Moses held his shepherd's staff. It represented his livelihood; it's what he was good at. It represented his income; his flock was his wealth and his family's security. God asked him to be willing to lay it down. God still asks, "What is that in your hand?" What has been given to you? Your gifts, your money, your temperament, your experience, you relationships, your mind, your education. God has given you what Dr. Martin Seligman calls "signature strengths." Seligman found that human abilities fall into certain categories. He defined them as: (a) Wisdom and knowledge (which includes abilities like curiosity, love of learning, sound judgement, and social intelligence). (b) Courage (perseverance and integrity). (c) Humanity (with capacities for kindness and the expression of mercy). (d) Justice (the ability to bring about fairness and leadership). (e) Temperance (qualities like self control, prudence, humility). (f) Transcendence (the appreciation of beauty, the expression of gratitude, the ability of hope, the capacity for joy). We all have the capacity for each of these strengths, but a few resonate more deeply in you; they are your "signature strengths." Identify these, and you being to understand your calling.

.........Sometimes we think God couldn't or wouldn't use us because of our weaknesses. No, the opposite is true. No one can speak to those who grieve, better than those who've suffered loss. Chuck Colson was the chief White House lawyer, until Watergate. But it wasn't until he was a convict that he was prepared to begin prison fellowship. Today, if you let him, God will use you.

Lenny Kravitz - "Storm" rmx

Daily Reading - "You Are The Salt Of The Earth." Matthew 5:13 NIV

Here is how it read today...

Thur. March 25
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"YOUR ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH." (MATTHEW 5:13 NIV)
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What are you called to do? (1)

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Sometimes what a person contributes doesn't get noticed until they're no longer around to do it. The story's told of the husband who came home from work to find his house in a complete mess. The baby was crying, there were dishes piled up in the sink and dirty laundry on the floor. The TV was blaring, beds weren't made up, carpets weren't vacuumed and dinner wasn't ready. When he demanded to know what was up, his wife said, "You know how you always ask what I've been doing all day? Well, today I didn't do it." Bible says, "Each one should retain the place in life...to which God has called him" (1 Co 7:17 NIV). This doesn't mean that we should not aspire to greater things. It just means that if we can't start here where we are, we can't start at all.

.........One day Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who'd spent years separated from his family. After being set free, the man wanted to travel with Jesus. But Jesus said, "No, go back home and tell them what the Lord has done for you" (See Lk 8:39). In other words, start where you are, use what you've got, and do what you can. The Bible says: "You are the salt of the earth." Salt doesn't exist for its own pleasure. It must be poured into something bigger than itself; only then does it fulfill its purpose.

..........But be careful, don't be ego-driven. The quest for significance can be misleading. You can't do it by yourself for yourself, you must do it with God and for His purposes - then God will bless you!

Daily Reading - "A Married Man...Has To." 1 Corinthians 7:33 NLT

So here is how it read today...

Wed. March 25
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"A MARRIED MAN...HAS TO." (1 CORINTHIANS 7:33 NLT)
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Serving God - and your mate!

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Paul writes: "An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord's work and thinking how to please him. But a married man can't do that so well. He has to think about...how to please his wife." Gayle Urban tells of browsing in a bookstore and discovering a shelf with reduced-price items. Among the gifts was a little figurine with a man and woman, their heads lovingly tilted toward one another. "Happy Anniversary," read the inscription. It appeared to be in perfect condition yet its tag indicated "damaged." Examining it more closely, she found another tag underneath that read, "WIFE IS COMING UNGLUED!"

.........When you marry somebody, you marry everything they are and everything they have been through. It's a package deal! And if you ask God, He'll give you the grace to minister to your mate. You may not see immediate change. It takes time for even a small cut to heal. But if you allow Him, God will give you the oil of compassion and the wine of love to pour into their wounds. Never become so spiritual that you become unavailable. Your first calling is to your mate and your family. Your priorities should start there, then spread to your career, your vocation and other pursuits. Paul says, in effect, "I release those who are married from the level of consecration I expect from those who are single, so that they'll be able to spend time working on their relationship." You says, "But I need to spend time with the Lord." That's true, and the Bible doesn't release you from your responsibility to God, it just sets some priorities. You're called to serve the Lord - and your mate!

J.M.T. "A Man With Emotions" (Then Yall Wonder Why) + Bonus

Daily Reading - "Take Mark...He Is Profitable...For The Ministry." 2 Timothy 4:11

Here is how it read today...

Tues. March 24
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"TAKE MARK...HE IS PROFITABLE...FOR THE MINISTRY." (2 TIMOTHY 4:11)
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Seeing others the right way

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When John Mark decided to take time off to visit his family, it didn't sit too well with Paul. Later when Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on their next mission's trip, Paul exploded! "The contention became so sharp...they parted from one another...Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas" (Ac 15:38-40 NKJV). But the story doesn't end there. Later, an older and wiser Paul who had learned to add grace to his grit, writes, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world...[so] Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry" (2 Ti 4:10-11). There are three important lessons here for you:

.........(1) Always be willing to give someone a second chance. After all, that's what God does for you. Now in extending grace you can get hurt and disappointed, but if you're going to be Christ-like it's a risk you must take. (2) Don't measure everybody else by your standards and goals. The truth is, they may not be called to do what you're called to do. Or they may have been called to do it in a different way. Don't make your personal preferences a precondition for loving, accepting and working with someone. (3) When you look for the best in others you usually find it. The Bible says, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2Co 4:7). So every time you meet the treasure you'll bump into the earthen vessel. Don't allow that to devalue the treasure, or your responsibility to look for it. Motivated people will rise to meet your expectations.

Daily Reading - "Joseph And His Mother Did Not Know It." Luke 2:43 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

"JOSEPH AND HIS MOTHER DIDN'T KNOW." (LUKE 2:43 NKJV)
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Don't forget your child

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Jesus' parents got so busy with other things, they didn't notice they'd lost Him: "The Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know...supposing Him to have been in the company" (Lukie 2:43-44 NKJV). Fortunately for them they found Him again. But it doesn't always work that way.

...........One Christian leader tells of meeting a man at a conference. This man's daughter, who was in second grade, was asked by her teacher to draw a picture of her family. That evening she proudly brought her art work home and showed it to her parents. When her dad looked at the picture he said, "What is this picture of?" His daughter replied, "That's of us and our house. The teacher asked me to draw a picture of our family." He looked at the picture more carefully and saw that everyone was there except him. "Sweetheart," he asked, "am I in the picture?" "No," she replied. "Why not?" he asked. "Because this is a picture of us at home, and you are never there." It hit him like a ton of bricks. Without malice she'd stated a simple fact. It was a wake-up call to an absentee dad. That day he decided to turn around and go back to his family. The Psalmist said, "I need your help, especially in my own home" (Ps 101:2 TLB). Television, the internet, peer pressure; how are your children doing? If you've been traveling the road to success but neglected to bring your family along with you, make a u-turn. Go back and pick up the people who matter most. Commit yourself to making the journey, only if it includes them.

Daily Reading - "He Permitted No Man To Do Them Wrong." 1 Chronicles 16:21 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Sat. March 21
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"HE PERMITTED NO MAN TO DO THEM WRONG." (1 CHRONICLES 16:21 NKJV)
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God is protecting you

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What would you be willing to do to protect your child from harm? Multiply that by infinity and you'll understand how much God cares for you.

..........Nebuchadnezzar took the scared vessels from the temple in Jerusalem and placed them in a pagan temple in Shinar (See Da 1:1-2 NKJV). After his son Belshazzar became king, on night during a drunken feast, "They brought in the...goblets...from the temple of God...and the king...and his concubines drank from them" (Da 5:3 NIV). Now if they'd mishandled some worthless old cup it might not have mattered, but God had too much invested in these sacred vessels to allow them to be mistreated. That night Nebuchadnezzar and his entire kingdom were destroyed because of his unchanging Bible principles. "He permitted no man to do them wrong: yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones'" (1 Ch 16:21-22 NKJV). As God's redeemed child you are loved, valued, and protected. So stand on that truth. You may have to fight in a foreign land or live and work in a difficult situation. You may have to endure great hardship for your faith. But understand - God's got too much invested in you to let you be destroyed. Any time Satan tries that, God will interrupt his party and say, "This vessel is off limits; it took me too long to teach this woman to pray. I've devoted too many hours to training this man how to overcome. They've learned how to stand amidst trials. They've suffered too much for My names' sake for Me to let you harm them. Take your hand off them, they're Mind!" Rejoice, today God is protecting you!

Daily Reading - "Fear Not, For I Am With You." Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Fri. March 20
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"FEAR NOW, FOR I AM WITH YOU." (ISAIAH 41:10 NKJV)
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Listen to God (2)

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To be successful in anything God calls you to do, you must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit within you and learn to recognize when He speaks to you through the Scriptures.

........When the pressure is on and you're tempted to move too quickly you'll hear His voice saying: "You shall not go out with haste...for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard" (Isa 52:12 NKJV). God's got you covered - front and back. How good is that? When you're about to make a wrong turn or a bad decision He will remind you, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Pr 16:NIV). When you don't have the ways and means to get the job done His voice will whisper: "The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail" (Isa 58:11 NKJV). You have an unfailing supply. When you run out of answers and don't know what to do He will reassure you: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" (Ps 32:8 NIV). When the load becomes too heavy to carry you'll hear His voice saying, "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall" (Ps 55:22 NIV).

.........Hearing God's voice may mean you have to sacrifice lesser things and tune out other voices, but you must do it. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is more important than learning to recognize God's voice when He speaks to you.

Daily Reading - "Your Ears Will Hear a Voice...Saying, 'This Is The Way.'" Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Here is how it read today...

Thurs. March 19
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"YOUR EARS WILL HEAR A VOICE...SAYING, 'THIS IS THE WAY.'" (ISAIAH 20:21 NIV)
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Listen to God (1)

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Any time you step out in faith and try something, a voice within you will whisper, "You must be out of your mind. You're not capable of this. Those little accomplishments you had before were pure luck; you just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Now you're in over your head." That voice will waken you in the middle of the night, sick to your stomach. You can hear it in every boardroom, living room and sidewalk. It's the voice of fear, and it doesn't play fair. It pulls the file on your past failures and preys on your deepest insecurities.

.........But there's another voice - God's! It says: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand" (Isa 41:10 NKJV). Attuning your ears to God's voice doesn't mean your problems are automatically solved or that the other voice just fades away. No, it's more like having an intimate conversation with a close friend in a noisy, crowded place. There may be other voices around you but don't hear them because you're so focused on what your friend is saying. That's how it is with God's voice. Whether He speaks to you through Scriptures, through a friend, or through your life's circumstances, He's always communicating with the heart that seeks Him. His promise to you is, "Your ears will hear a voice...saying, 'This is the way; walk in it." One word from God, just one, can change your outlook. So today, take time to listen to God's voice.

Where I'm At

Daily Reading - "Each According to Its Kind" Genesis 1:24 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Wed. March 18
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"EACH ACCORDING TO ITS KIND" (GENESIS 1:24 NKJV)
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It-takes-one-to-make-one

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In the book of Genesis ("beginnings"), God shows us how He intends things to work in life: "Let the earth bring forth the living creature...each according to its kind." Each one of us is a product of our DNA and our environment. Now, fast forward. How many giant killers were in Saul's army? Not one. When Goliath challenged Israel every soldier quaked with fear. Yet David, who came to bring food to his brothers, sized up the situation, recalled his experiences with God and went out and killed him. Now, after David became king, how many other giant killers arose in Israel? Lots: "Then Sibbecai...killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and they were subdued. And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan...killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. Again there was was at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants. When he taunted Israel, Jonathanthe son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. These were descended from the giants in Gath [Goliath's home town], and they fell by the hand of David and by the hands of his servants" (1 Ch 20:4-8 NAS). Why do you suppose there were no giant killers in Saul's day? Because Saul himself wasn't one! But under David's leadership they multiplied because David was a giant killer. This illustrates the "it-takes'-one-to-make-one"principle that starts in Genesis and runs through the Bible.

.........So the word for you today is - be careful who influences you, and be careful how you influence others.

Daily Reading - "Why Are You So Fearful" Mark 4:40 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

"WHY ARE YOU SO FEARFUL" (MARK 4:40 NKJV)
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Two lessons you learn only in life's storms

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In the Gospel of Mark we read: "He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side'... And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?' And they...said to one another, 'Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea ober Him!'" (Mk 4:35 NKJV).

............Here are two lessons you learn only in life's storms: (1) You must trust what God has told you. When Jesus said, "Let us cross over to the other side" there wasn't a big enough wave to take them under, no matter how threatening. What has God promised you? Standing on that won't keep you from getting scared or soaked, but it'll keep you from sinking. (2) You must remind yourself who's in the boat with you. If the Lord can calm a storm, He can prevent one. So when He permits you to go through storms it's to show you that you don't have a problem He can't solve; that you may be powerless in the situation but He's not; and that through this experience you''ll come to know Him in a way you have never known Him before. So learn these lessons well and come out stronger on the other side.

The Start of Something Big (cont)

So March was coming aka my birthday month. Now to clear up something very quickly, I am really not big about my bday. If I really had money to waste, then yea, I would care about throwing a big event, otherwise, I rather people just call me, hit me up any of the many ways there are now and days and simply say happy bday, and that would be enough. Rita had other plans, she wanted to have a get together with my friends and her friends. Sounds like a good idea to those whom may not know the situation. Neither of our friends talk, and from what I know most of her friends don't like me or my friends. My friends from school who she would invite don't live in the city and I'm not the type to ask them to travel for my bday and spend extra money on gas, hotel, partying and so forth, just for my bday. So this ended up being an issue that we eventually dealt with.
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So I ended up finding a job I was really interested in. It was entry level marketing with a structured plan that would eventually set you up to run your own office. While that sounded nice because it sounded like a business opportunity without the start up cost, other than hard work, I really was attracted to it due to the fact their main business was a concept of raising money for the D.A.R.E. program. I truly value that program because of the many things it helped me with as well as many other children. Entry level meant what it was, straight commission, and you gotta shine everyday or you aint getting paid. So I ended up starting there the week of my birthday and started out pretty well. First 2 to 3 weeks there I did a pretty good job, even took out some top producers in our March Madness competition. I was growing to like many of the individuals there and was also noticing things I may not have agreed with but as I like to say, just charged it to the game.
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So I made a few checks, caught up on a couple bills, and was looking to make it through this program as fast as possible. Birthday came and went, it was a simple time with my lady and she got me a nice gift that I still appreciate and that was that and was definitely enough for me. Somehow work became a battleground. Things I said I noticed that I didn't like were now working against me for reasons I was unaware of. However like I also said, you gotta just charge things to the game and make a decision. I chose to fight for something I believed in and this got me in trouble personally but no matter how dark things may get in life, people will always recognize the light that shines through you if you are truly a genuine person. So one thing led to another and after a short two months I was let go from a job where more people tend to actually quit before they are even fired. I still had many friends there who didn't agree with it and it opened a lot of people's eyes on the negative things about the people who ran the company. Either way, I didn't let it break my stride and actually was happy because the day I was let go was the same day as one of my friends graduation so I was happy that I could now attend. As I always say, everything happens for a reason.
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So it's now May and I make up my mind that I'm only going to search for management positions because I've proved to myself and others that I am qualified to run a store, manage many business operations as well as people, although I have not done it for an extended time period, I have done it, and done it successfully as well. I had a game plan and acted upon it. So shortly after being let go I acquired another job as an assistant manager and I was excited about learning new things. I had a plan on working as hard as it possibly took in the retail world to get to a certain level as fast as possible. I really liked retail simply because I like talking to people and meeting new people. So in a short times span I gained a lot of respect from my coworkers and was greatly admired by many customers. I had this down and was working on my next step, which was simply to find other means of income to occupy my free hours when I wasn't working.

So to reach back and just state some things that happened that I didn't want to fully dwell on for various reasons was this; In January I went on a business conference for 4 days in New Orleans that let me know that I have everything I need to be a successful leader, businessman, and inspiration to many others. In February I took Rita to see my family in Jamaica. I mainly went to handle some business stuff but of course we had fun and she got to see the real Jamaica, meet my brother (which no one gets to do) and not just tv/resort Jamaica. I had a lot on my plate and wasn't praying nor talking to God as much as I was previously. I also wasn't working out as much. As things started to happen more and more, I lost touch of the basic things I was doing to keep me on the right path. I was so busy with pushing for other things that I lost touch at times with doing first things first.

To be cont...

Daily Reading - "Above All...Guard Your Heart." Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Here is how it read today...

Mon. March 16

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"ABOVE ALL...GUARD YOUR HEART." (PROVERBS 4:23 NIV)

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Guard against lust

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Jesus said, "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Mt 5:28 NIV). Why did Jesus say this? Because every lustful glance damages your marriage bond. The less you desire your mate, the more you'll look for things in them to justify your fantasies. And the saddest part is, you'll never know how good your marriage could have been.

..........To win, you must decide once and for all to be fully committed to God. Here are three Scriptures you need to live by: (1) "I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully" (Job 31:1 NIV). Before David got into trouble with Bathsheba we read: "He saw a woman bathing...inquired about the woman...and took her" (2Sa 11:2-4 NKJV). Pay close attention to the progression: "saw", "inquired," "took." If what you're looking at is not yours, pull your eyes away immediately. (2) "Take captive every thought...make it obedient to Christ" (2Co 10:5 NIV). Police your mind. Instead of giving in to your daydreams or the internet or magazines, etc. fill your mind with God's Word and memories of your best moments with your mate. "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Ps 119:11). (3) "Above all...guard your heart." Work on strengthening your bond with your mate. Decide to love even when you don't feel life it, and your love will begin to blossom. And if you need to, find someone who can help you. "A brother is born for adversity" (Pr 17:17). Sometimes the difference between victory and defeat can be as little as five or ten minutes on the telephone, talking and praying with someone who understands.

Daily Reading - "I Have Found David...A Man After My Own Heart."

Here is how it read today...

"I HAVE FOUND DAVID...A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART." (ACTS 12:22 NKJV)
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The path to the throne (5)

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The Bible says: "And David said with longing, 'Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem'...So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well...took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it" (2Sa 23:15-16 NKJV). There are two important lessons here:

(1) You must surround yourself with the right people. Unlike those who are only "in it for what they can get out of it," these men had only one thing in mind: to serve their king and promote his kingdom. No wonder David said, "I am a companion of...those who keep Your precepts" (Ps 119:63 NKJV). (2) You must refuse to settle for less than God's best. These men risked their lives to bring David a cup of water, yet he poured it out on the ground before the Lord. David was saying: I refuse to settle for a cup, I want the well; I must be connected to the life source." Stop treating God like a janitor you call when you've made a mess and need someone to clean it up; or as your "go to" person when you need something you can't otherwise get. Don't go to God for a miracle, go for a relationship - and you can walk in His miraculous provisions every day. "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Ps 91:1 NKJV). Note the words "dwell" and "abide." Instead of commuting in and out, stay in contact with God and all that He has will be available to you.

Daily Reading - "I Have Found David...A Man After My Own Heart." Acts 13:22 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Thurs. March 12
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I HAVE FOUND DAVID...A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART." (ACTS 13:22 NKJV)
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The path to the throne (4)

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Some of God's promises are fulfilled quickly. But others, like the one God gave to David telling him he'd be king, have to be fought for. The Jebusites controlled Jerusalem; they taunted David saying, "You will not get in here" (2Sa 5:6 NIV). And to make matters worse, Jerusalem was on an elevation hundreds of feet above David's army. The only way up was through a water cistern where they had to wade and climb through pitch-black darkness. "Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion" (2Sa 5:7). Understand this: if He has to, God will bring you up through the gutter to get you to the throne! Notice two words: "nevertheless" and "took." When you're up to your neck in problems and the enemy is saying, "You won't make it," stand on God's Word and declare "nevertheless." Rise up in faith and claim what God's promised you. "The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits" (Da 11:32 NKJV). God can show you how to exploit the situation for your good and His glory.

..........But don't expect everybody to celebrate your success. "When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, [they] went up in search of David." (2sa 5:17 NKJV). You'll have to fight to get to your destiny - and fight to hold on to it. You can't "coast" on old victories. With each new battle you have to get fresh instructions. "David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines?'...the Lord said...'Go up, for I will...deliver the Philistines into your hand"' (2Sa 5:19 NKJV). Today, go forward knowing God is with you!

Daily Reading - "I Have Found David...A Man After My Own Heart." Acts 13:22 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Wed. March 11
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"I HAVE FOUND DAVID...A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART." (ACTS 13:22 NKJV)
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The path to the throne (3)

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David knew Samuel was coming to his house looking for a king, and that he wasn't invited. That hurt. So how did he respond? By asking somebody to put his name in the hat? No! "Promotion comes from God" (See Ps 75:6-7). David knew that nobody could keep God from blessing him. Listen: "Then Samuel...anointed him in the midst of his brothers" (1Sa 16:13 NKJV). If you remain faithful, God will lift you up in the midst of those who overlooked and put you down.

........Notice, when the Spirit of God left King Saul he was tormented by evil spirits and ended up consulting a witch. No wonder David prayed, "Take not thy holy spirit from me" (Ps 51:11). If God has called you to do the job He will give you all the grace needed; but if He hasn't called you to it, it'll torment you day and night.

.......But he prepared for trouble! Like Joseph's brothers, they'll say of you, "Let us...kill him and cast him into some pit...[and] see what will become of his dreams" (Ge 37:20 NKJV). Why would those who are supposed to love you say such a thing? Because they don't really know who you are, or recognize your God given dream. Expect rejection in the early stages, especially when there's no evidence to validate your God-given dream. When David demonstrated the faith to take on Goliath, his oldest brother Eliab called him arrogant and resented him (See 1Sa 17:28). Why did God such stories in the Bible? "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us" (1Co 10:11 NIV).

Daily Reading - "I Have Found David...A Man After My Own Heart." Acts 13:22 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Tues. March 10
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"I HAVE FOUND DAVID...A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART." (ACTS 13:22 NKJV)
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The path to the throne (2)

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David was anointed to be king in his teens, but he only ascended the throne at thirty. There's a pattern here:

(1) God calls the man. In spite of being unappreciated by his family and overlooked by the prophet Samuel, God picked David. He also picked Deborah to lead the nation in a male dominated society. Stop trying to figure God out, and stop comparing yourself to others! "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" (Ro 9:21 NIV). We'd have rejected many of the people God used - which lets us know how much we don't know. (2) God decides the plan. "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it" (Php 1:6 NKJV). Who decides it? Who performs it? Who should your confidence be in? God! God's plan for David involved years of ducking Saul's spears, living in caves and working with 600 misfits who redefine the word "dysfunctional." God trains you in a small sphere so you can handle a bigger one. (3) God knows the span of time required. "Who through faith and patience [endurance] inherit the promises" (See Col 1:11-12). Endurance means standing firm under pressure. The prize belongs to the man or woman who's committed for the long haul. Joseph refused to let go of his dream; it's what enabled him to say no to the advances of Potiphar's wife and endure unjust imprisonment. But the day came when Potiphar and his wife knelt before Joseph. So keep your eyes on the prize and don't give up!

HAPPY B DAY TO ME!!!

So yea, it's my birthday. I've never really been big on celebrating my birthday after 16 and 21. But hey, figured I'd let the world know that yes, it is my bday and I'm thankful just to be here another day just as every other one. Thanks God...

Daily Reading - "I Have Found David...A Man After My Own Heart." Acts 13:22 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Mon. March 9
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"I HAVE FOUND DAVID...A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART." (ACTS 13:22 NKJV)
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sThe path to the throne (1)

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Anytime God describes someone as "a man after my own heart," study them carefully. Let's look at the life of David.

He had a humble start but a great finish. David began as a shepherd and ended up as a king. The chances of that happening were slim to none. In those days shepherds were so low on the totem pole they couldn't testify in a court of law; their word wasn't considered reliable. Yet David ended up writing the most widely read and loved psalms of all time. When you invite God into your life He cancels the liabilities of your past and rewrites your future. But you most choose what He has chosen for you. There's an interesting contrast between Paul and David. Paul "sowed his wild oats" before he met Christ, then went on to live an exemplary life. David became a king at thirty, yet during his forty years in leadership he experienced devastating failure. There are two lessons here: (1) Don't rush to judgement. It's not over until God says it's over. David's story is a warning to the transgressor, a rebuke to the self-righteous, a testimony to the justice of God that won't allow us to escape our consequences, and to His love that will never let go of us. (2) God can bring good out of it. He can take every experience you've been through, both positive and negative, and make it work for good, either your good or the good of others. When you seek to fulfill God's purpose in spite of your flaws, He makes "all things work together for good" (Ro 8:28).

The Start of Something Big (con't)

So I've now been in my relationship for two months now, and already we have another issue to add onto our small list. I don't have a car, now I lost my job, and although we did good at taming our urges, without putting blame on any one person, we both let them get the best of us. I was still going through my daily procedure of reading my bible and daily readings, working out in the morning and night, and simply trying to live the right way, but any relationship I have whether it be family, close friends, and women, will always be a true test for me. I am truly unselfish and don't like to let people down. So if I have something or can do something for someone, it's most likely done. Doesn't matter what the cost or lost may be to me, more times than many, if it was possible for me to do I do it. So in that said, it wasn't a continuous thing, one reason being we were still in a distant relationship, but I still held my ground for the most part. Special occasions were what they were, so I let my guard down for those times.
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Holidays for me are a big thing because I LOVE FAMILY, PERIOD. Being in a relationship can be stressful sometimes because you now have an extended family that you are now involved with and have to be respectful of the situation you are in. Me being away from Philly made the holidays an even bigger deal to me because it wasn't like I could just take a 5-15 minute trip and see my family members here and there, so these were times where I could just chill, talk and enjoy being around my family, which is something I seriously appreciate. Rather than go into detail on what happened and to put blame on anyone, we were obviously rookies at this holiday thing and visiting multiple houses and doing stuff, so there were problems but I eventually got over them. I never knew if she really understood why I was upset til this day, but hey I guess it really doesn't matter now.
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Keeping on the same theme of the holidays and us being rookies with the situation, I will totally admit on this one that I may have been wrong, but I'll let you all be the judge. New years to me was just another reason to party and be with friends, that's really it. It never was a relationship holiday, yea I understand people kiss at the turn of the new year, one thing I never really understood, but so be it, to me it was another reason just to party. My friends had a tradition of getting out of the city, it was just something we did. I didn't really plan on going this year, due to my budget, so I really wasn't going to make any plans. Turns out my friends already paid for everything for me and didn't let me know. Once again, I didn't have any plans and they paid for everything in advance. So when I found out I let Rita know and she didn't have it in her budget at the time to come, so she got upset that I was still considering going. Well here's my situation, I could have went, had a great time with my friends, or I could have stayed in philly, with my lady and not did much at all and let my friends money go to waste. I don't like to waste things by the way, so let that be a side note. So yes, I went had fun and she went to church and hung out with her family and was upset because she told me she was embarrassed not to be doing anything. I thought what she did was nice but we had different views.
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January pretty much flew by with my doing things from time to time to try and make up for upsetting her and another holiday which I don't participate in approached. At this time, she now had her own place with her cousin and I had my car, so we saw each other more around this time as well. Most people know my philosophy on Valentines day and know that I really don't want to take part in such nonsense. Of course being in a relationship, where both parties don't agree can be an issue. Rather than try and change my views she just tried to make sure we would at least be together, which of course following my philosophy, if I can do it, so shall it be done. Well I don't fully remember why I got to her place so late, but she ended up cooking dinner, which was something I always appreciated but probably never showed how much I truly appreciated it, and we just chilled and fell asleep to a movie.
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At this point, I still didn't have a job, and I was battling with a lot of things at this time, so with everyone agreeing, I ended up looking for a job towards the end of the month. This time around, I wasn't just going to do any old job, I was only going to do something that I really believed in or really wanted to do, those were my only interest. The next couple of months would really teach me a lot of things about myself and about life itself and will stick to me forever.
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"let your light shine before men." (matthew 5:16)
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To be con't...

Daily Reading - "A Woman Of Samaria Came To Draw Water" John 4:7 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Fri. Mar 6

"A WOMAN OF SAMARIA CAME TO DRAW WATER." (JOHN 4:7 NKJV)

Tell someone about Jesus

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John records, "A woman of Samaria came to draw water." After five failed marriages her trust levels are demolished and her self-worth is zero, so she approaches Jesus cautiously. Brick by brick He takes down the wall she's hiding behind. When he gets through, she leaves transformed. What a contrast: one chapter earlier, Nicodemus, a religious leader, came to Jesus by night, suggesting he didn't want to risk being seen with Him. After telling him he must be born again, Jesus said, "Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light" (Jn 3:21 NIV). At that point, Nicodemus has to make a choice. There are three lessons here:

(1) Christ sees potential in you when others don't. "The Pharisses...complained, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them'" (Lk 15:2 NKJV). They were right! This woman was the first person Jesus introduced Himself to as the Messiah. Why didn't He do that when He called His disciples, baptized John, cleansed the temple, performed His first miracle, or interviewed Nicodemus? Because Jesus doesn't measure you by your past, He measures you by your potential. (2) Christ will change you, then use you to change others. Amazingly, she was the first person to preach the gospel in Samaria. "Many...Samaritans...believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified" (Jn 4:39 NKJV). (3) Christ doesn't need to be defended, just introduced. "Many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, 'Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world'" (Jn 4:41-42 NKJV). Today, tell someone about Jesus.