Thought Life

Our position in life follows our thought life and represents the presence of activity within time. And within that space of time,  surrounding us, are interactive forces that we are capable of controlling. Its the lifeline, within our mouth, and it’s called the tongue. Author, Charles Capps, wrote about “The Tongue, A Creative Source,” he goes on to say “Words are the most powerful things in the universe! The words you speak will either put you over in life or hold you in bondage. Many peope have been held captive in their circumstances by their own words. The absence of God’s Word in your life will rob you of faith in His ability. Receive from God!”

We must come to the place of knowing that with our own mouths we possess the ability to speak life just by how we react to situations and by how we control our thoughts (the power of life and death are in the tongue -Proverbs 18:21).  Everything that comes into being needs a source. And it needs to be placed in a position to thrive. Think of plants. Those that are unwatered, wither and die. Those that are properly watered, grow and are sustain. In in lifeform its the same.

Has there been any situation that you can recall where you were thinking a thought about a person that you hadn’t seen for quite a while. Then as the thoughts continue your desire increases. Then by coincidence or not, you run into that person and you say, ” hey, I had been thinking of you,” but was that encounter a product of your thoughts or simply a unplanned event?

Our thoughts give life, they propel us towards an activity or action, or they repel us from the same. How we exercise our innate desires is up us. Choosing is the only variable to consider. What do you desire? It’s not magic or a name it and claim it. Really it’s a matter of determining for yourself that you will not quit until the end goal is obtained. It will require you to work,  and keep your thoughts in motion towards your desire.

How about a 30 day challenge to control your tongue and thoughts? Lets walk Philippians 4:8: brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things (NIV).  Practice how to redistribute the pattern of intended thought; towards active intention of thought. If you are willing to try, send an email direct to me. You say what’s in it for me, well let’s just say, you know what happens when you quit, let’s see what happens when you don’t.

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The Highest Form

What is love? Baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me no more. Moreover, what’s love got to do with it? The unexplainable, undeniable moment when you realize the love bug has its squeeze on you.  The Emotions, sung about it, Whoa, whoa you get the best of my love; Earth, Wind, and Fire sung about Loves Holiday,  and  Minnie Riperton, sung about Loving You.  But my favorite is an old school, old school by Burt Bacharach and Hal David,  sung by Dionne Warwick, Alfie.  This would be my first introduction to love songs as my Mother sung this song to my sister and I when we were kids. What I didn’t understand then was the beauty of love, nor what it meant.

Love, in its purest form is sacrificial. It’s the highest form of exchange one can give of themselves.  Some love as if love is a casual encounter, adjustable to their needs and subject to their personal desires.  While others have learned that love is based on denying self. For God so loved that He gave, His only begotten Son (John 3:16);  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud (1 Corinthians 13:4). I like to refer to the entire book of 1 Corinthians 13 as a love story.  As no greater love can be expressed.  But until we take time to return to the plan of love and the truth of love,  only then will see the highest effect of love in our lives. In the meantime I hear my Mother’s voice singing –

What’s it all about, Alfie?
Is it just for the moment we live?
What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on an old golden rule?
As sure as I believe there’s a heaven above, Alfie
I know there’s something much more,
Something even non-believers can believe in
I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love we just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you’ve missed you’re nothing, Alfie
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you’ll find love any day, Alfie
Alfie

Written by Burt Bacharach, Hal David • Copyright © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

 

Slogan Life

Have you ever known  a person who tries to delay life as if the remote control was in their hands?  Using life as if they determine time, space and every breath. Making no importance of the moment, present, past or thinking of the future.  Life is made up of their opinion, their predisposition to persons, places and things that generally comes through media.  Our society has cultivated the mindset of people to live life in sloganville. You know them , have it your way; just do it;  expecting every thing to Snap! Crackle! Pop! meanwhile they forget, when you care enough to send the very best, life can be finger, licken, good.

We try harder to live life without feeling, no empathy or sympathy. Just going through the motions, then we wonder why those good old days were more alive and vibrant. For me that would be the 60’s through the early 90′. But I will say, those times were better because family mattered. Because respect mattered, especially with the  elders. The village was alert , willing and active.

And while many talk about how much better it was, do something to make today better. Bring back the moral compass. Instead of becoming a part of the “just wanna do me,” microwave society start to live outside of self, put away the remote control on life and keep legacy in mind as each generation plans for the next, by choice or default, it will happen. Then turn from slogan life towards the real meaning of life because in the end, We answer to a Higher Authority.

The Invaluable Gift

Moving in life, slow motion or rushed for time. Twenty four hours a days are never long enough and the days are shorter than before.

Remembering in the midst of all what is now untraceable is time.  My mind relives daily how invaluable time is; yet it is something each of us takes for granted. We mismanage, misappropriate,  misuse and often misunderstand that time is our most valuable asset. It’s irreplaceable.

Last year (Dec. 16) Will Smith and cast presented a heartwrenching romantic drama, Collateral Beauty. It followed a man who had lost his only child. He had to learn how to cope and in doing so began to write letters to time, death and love.  Each encounter was experienced through three of his business partners.  Well, for me as each scene unravelled it showed how selfish and selfless people can be; how actions create reactions. How people are in relationships with family and friends afraid to show their vulnerability, trying to be stronger when life gives its hardest punch.  But amidst tragedy’s selfless acts of kindness, Collateral Beauty,  follows from those you have encountered.

My experience would come in my life just nine days later, Dec. 25, 2016,  I would have to embrace and accept collateral beauty from all the kindness expressed from too many people to list, as my Mom went to be with the Lord. In this time, I too have had to learn how to cope with not hearing her voice, seeing her radiant smile; her warm hands embracing mine.  Her guidance and ever present love. Living life now with just moments in time; recalling how time kept moving, too fast when I just wanted more with her. But time didnt stop.  I wished to turn back the clock just to relive moments that now seem too short. Time, our most invaluable gift, that we all learn to  appreciate, but often time just a little too late.

 

First, Once

 

Figuratively speaking, first and once are synonymous. If you do it once or do it first is it the same ? While driving the other day I began to question the paradigm of this colloquialism.

You may wonder why does it matter. And I asked myself the same thing. But I became very curious to First, Once and I realized they are different. First is preceding all others in time, order or importance; whereas Once is in the past. Then I thought, got it. I have had First experiences, Once.  Are you with me?

In the filters of life we all have had First experiences Once. Do you remember ? Think about the First day of school, it happened once. The First job you ever held, it happened Once. Or even your First ever new car, it too happened Once.

Then God, who ordained from the beginning starting with Genesis, created First, Once. “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth, and on the First day, said let there be light (we know the story) then He created the Firmament.” And continued until the earth was formed…. (Genesis 1: 1-31)  His First, happened Once.  All creation, that was crafted from the One who is the First, and the Last, happened Once.  Think on that for a few minutes.

Now let’s pull it all together. Life presents all of us with the opportunity to explore, embrace,  create and cultivate. Why not use everyday, every minute with First intent, as you only see yesterday, Once.

 

 

Seize The Moment

Our lives are but a vapor, James 4:14 , poof, and it’s over. No more chances to fix it; to get to it; to say I will do it tomorrow.

Our thoughts determine our actions. And when we implement these actions we will see results.  It becomes a driving factor. For a moment, think about it. What is your primary motivator? What is it that makes you want to push beyond limits, to dig deeper and bring into fruition the actions desired ?  Do it. Dont delay.

We justify, so we think, why we don’t follow our desires. We allow excuses to dictate our actions to the point of do nothingness. Then say things like I’m too old, I can’t,  I won’t have support or not gifted enough to bring the vision to pass. Yet in this vast world there’s room for your gift (Proverbs 18:16, A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men).

Many of us know what happens when we quit,  but what happens when you don’t?  Seize the moment, daily. Put your best foot forward, why not?

In the Silence

Surrounded by silence your mind sees the fullness of thought. You are awakened to the inner voice of guidance (for me, that’s God) that otherwise is blocked by the noise of life.

My dearest love one day asked me “is the silence too loud,” and I thought yes.  It’s very loud because the issues we don’t want to confront ends up speaking loudly in the silence. Often it is so loud that self confrontation is undeniable. I mean you can’t run from yourself, right ?

In the most private moments we have to look at self. Look at the one who truly has to be accountable for that moment, that place, right now.  That place called yesterday,  that place called the past, and present. When we fail to do that we are placing ourselves in life’s repeat mode. Life’s lessons often look like they continue until we get it right.

Unscripted,  life doesn’t go backwards,  it only moves forward.  We move towards our future or towards mistakes of our past. Until we get the lesson right,  it will continue to show in different forms. Think about patience for example. That is a difficult task to master,  yet daily we are tasked to get it right.  When you’re stuck by the train; in traffic; with the kids; significant others; or at the express check out lane at the market.  Through it all I am reminded that God is continually working to let patience have it’s perfect work.

After all, life is a stage (as my loving sister says) we create the scenes, and often pick the cast, unscripted, until the final curtain call.  So take time to use the silence to ensure that your presentation represents your best work; the masterpiece you want the world to see.

 

Disconnected Yet in Purpose

Ever had a situation where you questioned if you were disconnected?  Why are my thoughts so far removed? Am I from a distant planet ? Who removed my voice of reason?  I mean, I have rationalized the options until options are my questions that keep my disillusionment more cloudy.  Has anyone been there, or was I dreaming?

I ponder daily why this world, this place where life is created appears to be mixed from fine granules like sand, to obstacles vast  like the sea?

We are all creators of our unscripted lives. We create the frame;  we make the wallpaper of life. How this is done depends on how we choose to view it, rose colored lenses; dark shades, or clear lens. However we chose to depict life it’s only when we allow the light of God to shine can we radiate our imperfections which make us rooted with purpose.

The Beginning

Sharing in the blog is all about transparency of life. The meaning that no one is perfect. Regardless of socio-economic status; physical appearances or self righteous entitlement.

The journey of life is real and it unfolds everyday. It’s my hope to use this platform to discuss the present, remember the past (the roots) and always know that God has a plan, He always did. We live unscripted.