Disappointment

Disappointment can be the fire that fuels the passion for reaching dreams if you acknowledge and light the flame.



Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.


Keisha

A Time for Everything

A Time for Everything

I can feel the change in the way the wind blows
How dark nights come early
and the symbols in the breeze
Squeeze your existence so you realize

I can feel the change in the way the wind blows
How noise is loud and carefree dying down
and the ears perk sensation
Feelings are intense not sure how to pursue

I can feel the change in the way the wind blows
How heat becomes cold
and the tips of your fingers hurt
Rushing for cover trying to recover or rediscover

I can feel the change in the way the wind blows
How going back to normal doesn't exist
and time runs like self transcendence
and things remembered create complexity or bliss

I can feel the change in the way the wind blows

Keisha

Ecclesiastes 3:1

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

The soul was made to Love and the heart was made to keep that Love alive Keisha  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

What It Means To Be A Sinner

My heart hurts for all the mistakes I've made.  I'm sad that I feel like I've disappointed God.  That  my focus should be on him and what he wants for me, but it's on things.  I know he is here.  He's been with me all my life, but I can't hear him.  I can't get the evil out my head sometime.  I feel trapped a lot and a disappointment.  It's so hard to get back emotionally and mentally to were I'd like to be.  I want to be happy.  I need to be happy and I don't listen.  True happiness comes from God.  I wonder if what I want and what God wants is one in the same?  Sometimes I think he wants me to do what he wants.  Or maybe it's just hard to do what I know I should.  I'm so confused.  I think others get confused about God and just give up on him and sometime life.  I've seen the blessings in my life and I don't want to give up.  I want to get it right.  If I am a sinner can I ever get it right?  Right is doing what I know and feel in my soul and in my heart.  I will always make mistakes and I will never be perfect, that's what it means to be a sinner.

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Get Out the Box

We live in a fearful time.  Sometimes it feels as if someone wants us to be afraid.  Like we live in a box.  When that one person tries to think outside the box and go against the grain of normal, they are turned on.  People turn against them for being different for wanting different.  We are made different.  We all have different skills and tools which are our gifts.  Once you find out what your gift is and use it....you become that person trying to get out the box.  For today, get out the box.  Don't be afraid to be different.

1 Peter 4:10

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Keisha

Steps to Change

Steps to Change

1.  Identify what the problem is:  If you don’t know what you want to change then how can you start the process of change?

2.  Motivation:  Having the motivation to change is very important.  Some people may have to change everything to get out of there certain situations.  Are you ready to give up everything or everyone if you have to?  Are you ready to give up people who do not add positivity to your life, but influence chaos and destruction?  Once you have the motivation to make change and you are determined then you will be willing to do whatever it takes for change to occur.  

3.  A Support System:  Everyone needs someone; a positive parent, a teacher, pastor, counselor, someone who is going to positively influence you in making good choices.  If you are going to make change you need someone in your corner to help with support.  So, when you have days that you feel like giving up (you will have those days*).  Your support system can encourage you to continue on the journey, because the battle may be long, but when you win the war you have succeeded.  *Giving up in the sense that you want to resort back to old behaviors.  The behaviors you are seeking to change are easily to fall back into, because we have become so familiar with them, so when things get hard it is our natural desire to go back to what we know.

4.  A plan.  A plan is the start of every good venture.  Having a plan is having the road map to get to the change you want to occur.  The plan could be to start exercising or drawing every time you want a cigarette.  Just having a plan will help you reach your desired goal for change. 

5.  Change in perception.  Once you change your perception or thinking it will help in achieving your goal.  If you are trying to stop smoking cigarettes, for example, and you think about the relief and satisfaction smoking brings it’s going to be hard to stop.  If you change your thinking to focus on positive things and how your health will be better or how much money you will save this will continue to encourage your goal. 

6.  Focus on today.  Don’t worry about yesterday; don’t get caught up in tomorrow.  Focus on how your change can occur today, right now.  If you focus on today and what it takes to continue the process of change today then you won’t get overwhelmed.  We have negative thinking that can creep into our minds getting us off focus.  Because we slipped up yesterday, or there is going to be a party and people will be smoking tomorrow will only overwhelm us.  Focus on change today and what you can do today.  I’m not saying don’t learn from the mistake you made yesterday or be ill prepared for tomorrow.  I’m just saying today is enough problems in itself, focus on being successful in the moment.

7.  Pray.  That’s what I always end with.  For me prayer is soothing to my soul and gives me hope and faith.  When I pray I know everything will be alright, even in the midst of the most uncomfortable and hardest times in life.  When I pray I am thankful and encouraged.  I pray.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 
[Romans 12:2] 

Keisha

I get so angry I want to cry.  Maybe I just personalize things to much?  Maybe I'm to sensitive?  But being black in America is a struggle that I'm tired of fighting.  It's like being bullied and reaching the point were you aren't going to take it anymore. I don't want to fight anymore, but I can't change people just myself.  I wanted to see the movie "Top Five."  It isn't playing in the area I live.  I've noticed that none of the black films I have wanted to see have been played in the theatre I like to frequent.  However, across town on the "south side" the modern segregation of today the movie is playing all day long.  Is that marketing or a way of keeping people segregated? It saddens my heart to tears.  I just want to live without being judge by the color of my skin.  The misconception of what ignorant people conceive.  It's hard enough that we as people are judge daily, and that we have enough struggles in life on its own, that the extra is the last thing on that camels back.  In my world people would be accepted for who they are; nice, mean, kind, single, married, outgoing, loud, rich or poor whatever the case may be.  No one is perfect and people seem to forget that everyone of us is unique and made in the image of God.  If God can accept us in all his glory and brilliance, and as sinful as we are, why can't we accept each other?  Just venting.....

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

14 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:1-4

Keisha