Be Ready AND Willing to Obey

An accomplishment must first begin in each of our minds. We must be able to see ourselves reaching our goal before we ever put the plan into action. Once we have visualized it, then, we must start making preparations for our journey. Success can only be attained when opportunity meets preparation. In other words we must be READY. This is why it is imperative that we take the time to count up the costs and pay it in full. If our dream does not include the work required, then it is merely a fantasy. Many of us have missed opportunities of a lifetime simply because we were not ready when they presented themselves. Procrastination is our worst enemy. Proverbs 3:28 tells us "Say not unto your neighbor, go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you." I have implemented a 2-minute rule in my day-to-day life. I never put off anything that takes 2 minutes or less to complete. I have been amazed at the things I have been able to get done 2 minutes at a time. We must also be WILLING to go as far as it may take and sacrifice whatever it may require in order to bring our dreams into fruition. Coach Fedora always makes the statement that "Everyone wants to be successful, but few are willing to do what it takes." The purpose has to worthy of working towards and fighting for. Nehemiah in the Bible had the will to rebuild the Wall of Jerusalem and was willing to fight any opposition who came against him and his people. In the 4th chapter and 14th-18th verses he speaks of inspiring his people to remember the Lord and be not afraid, but be willing to fight for what was rightfully theirs. From that point on half of the men worked while the other half stayed on guard, ready to defend the Wall. And even those who worked kept their weapons with them. We must lastly OBEY our calling. We all have been placed on this Earth for a purpose. God has predestined everyone of us just as He did Jeremiah, but everyone's destination is not the same. I've often wondered how people can be close for so many years but eventually drift apart. I now understand that the path chosen for each one of us is different. Sometimes it takes being willing to leave everyone and everything behind just as Abraham did and obey the calling on our lives. We must Ready AND Willing to Obey.

Whose Blood Is On Your Hands?

We never really know who all is watching us and whose lives we are influencing. Most of the people that we think are taking notice are not; it is generally the ones that we least expect who are following our lead. Everyone is a role model. Whether the model is good or bad solely depends on our actions. Being a positive role model is a responsibility that most people shun, but it is one of the simplest things to do. It only requires doing what we know is right. In Matthew 27:24 "When (Pontius) Pilate saw that he could gain nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see you to it." Pontius Pilate knew that the charges brought against Jesus were false and did not warrant the punishment the multitude demanded. Because he was not influenced by the angry crowd, he instead acknowledged the innocence of Jesus and took no part in the mistreatment. Our actions, good or bad, influence the life of someone else. In many families we see certain cycles that are passed down from generation to generation. In homes where young men and women grow up watching their parents bring partners in and out of their lives or seeing loved ones abused verbally, physically, or sexually; they are affected, even into adulthood. In many instances these kids grow up mimicking this behavior because it is all they know. When their role models fail to set positive examples, it consequently leads to them falling into the same lifestyle. On the other hand, a positive influence leaves a lasting impression as well. Being in an environment filled with love and compassion for one another helps instill that mindset. It then becomes a way of life. We must learn to use our influence to make positive impressions on the lives of others. Doing what we know to be right not only makes an impression on others, but it also enhances our quality of living. We avoid certain situations that may render less than favorable consequences. We all have people who look to us as a source of encouragement. They see the circumstances that we face but pay more attention to our persistence. It encourages them to fight through the adversity that they are facing. It gives them hope to see someone else conquer their opposition. If we give up we not only fail in our situations, but we may also cause those watching to lose faith in their vision as well. Since we are all role models, let us be positive ones because we never know WHOSE BLOOD IS ON OUR HANDS.

Have you....... since you believed?

The verse that the title refers to is Acts 19:2 where Paul asks the disciples "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" Paul asked this question because he realized that true belief evokes action. He knew that the Holy Ghost could be attained by anyone willing to follow the example of Christ. This same concept can be applied to every aspect of our lives. Anything that we truly work towards is attainable if we are willing to combine "works" with our "faith." According to Romans 12:3 "For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith." This passage tells us that no man starts with more or less faith than the next. It is the exercising of the measure given unto us that yields results. During one service my pastor said something that really resonated with me concerning faith. He said that, "God recognizes real faith when He sees it." We are often able to do just enough in order to convince man that our faith is strong and unwavering, but God knows all. He can sense doubt, fear, and uncertainty in our hearts when no one else can. Often times we question why things that we ask for do not come into fruition, but the answer lies within us. It is because our measure of faith has not grown strong enough to "stagger not at the promise of God through unbelief..." like Abraham according to Romans 4:20. I am the first to admit that I tend to question whether what I am asking for is truly meant for me, which leads God to question the strength of my faith. When we allow doubt to enter into our hearts we set back our blessings. I believe that in most of situations that we have sought divine intervention for could have been resolved more expediently if not for doubt and uncertainty. We restart the process every time we allow either to disrupt our prayers. Instead we should start making preparations to receive the blessing. I was once told that success occurs when opportunity meets preparation. I'm reminded of my mother telling me the story of how we moved into the house I grew up in. She told me of my father and herself seeing the house and inquiring about it. At first it did not seem as though they would be able to get the house but she "judged Him faithful who had made the promise" just as Sarah did in Hebrews 11:11. She began to express her desire to attain the house to the Lord and reminded Him of His promise to be a "rewarder to those who diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). She began packing things in the house in preparation for the move despite the circumstances. It wasn't but a few days later that they were notified that they would indeed be able to get the house. It was the stepping out on faith that God rewarded. We must play the part until it happens. We cannot judge what is enough in the eyes of God, but instead be determined strive as long as it takes to get there. When we show faith we are not only rewarded with what have asked for, but we also strengthening of our faith in order to ask things even greater. In Matthew 19:26 Jesus himself said "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." We can never experience the full extent of this promise without going through situations that allow us to strengthen our "measure of faith." So, have you.... since you believed?

Error On The Side Of Caution

"A master carpenter measures ten times and cuts only once rather than measure once and cut ten times." We must carefully plan out each step of our journey, and never let our anxious anticipation deceive us into acting without taking the time to properly prepare. Luke 14:28-30 asks "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish." Being patient in our preparation allows us to spot wrinkles that would otherwise have been unforeseen because we allow ourselves the opportunity to reevaluate the situation and take everything into consideration. In some instances we may act hastily out of anger or frustration and end up making decisions that we later regret, but when we give ourselves time to calm down we generally see the overall picture instead of merely noticing the one spot the painter missed. Rash decision making typically leads to "just missing out" on the opportunity we are awaiting. When we are too anxious we are prone to jump at the first thing that "looks" similar to what we are looking for. I have fallen victim to my own anxious anticipation more times than I would like to admit, with the same results yielded each time. I have moved too soon on multiple occasions and have gotten an artificial answer to my questions. I was always told that "anything that doesn't give you time to think is of the devil." I generally laughed at the statement, but now I understand its meaning. Opportunity will not wait for us to be slowful, but it will give us time to prepare. Being prepared inspires confidence. It allows us to act instinctively versus thoughtlessly. In football, a quarterback has 3 or 4 seconds to read the defense and determine which receiver should get the ball. If he is indecisive he will miss his window of opportunity and will either get sacked, or even worse, throw an interception. But, when we have already done our homework, we are not nervous about the test; it is merely a formality that comes with making an A. If we ARE ready then we have no need to GET ready. So if we are to error in any way, it is best to ERROR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

Traveling The Road Less Traveled

"I couldn't wait for success so I went ahead without it." These words spoken by Jonathan Winters continue to resonate in my mind as I plan my short and long term goals. Of all collegiate athletes only 1% will ever play professionally, only .03% of Americans will earn $1 million annually, and only 29% of Americans will graduate from a 4-year university. Though I, nor Jonathan Winters know the secret to success, the individuals that have achieved it that I know personally have all "TRAVELED THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED". They are willing to do the things that others are not in order to achieve their goals. They have a VISION. Knowing exactly what we are working towards is the first step. Proverbs 29:18 states that "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Creating a vision of the end result allows us to mark our progress along the way. It is difficult to remain encouraged if we do not take the time to notice mile markers as we pass them. We must relish in small victories, because their accumulation is what ultimately leads us to our destination. Having a keen eye set on our destination also prevents us from detouring on routes that "look" similar to the one we are traveling. Our vision allows us to be patient enough to wait on the right exit because we have already estimated the travel time. The most successful individuals I know have an ATTITUDE of success. Our attitude determines how we approach each situation. It determines whether we are willing to stand up against the giants that currently occupy "the land of milk and honey" like Joshua and Caleb. Our attitude shapes our perspective of the experiences we encounter. It is the difference between seeing construction on the road as a dead end or an opportunity to find an alternate route in order to have options for the trip home. We have to be determined to reach our destination regardless of circumstances. If adversity is not a part of our vision, then it is merely a fantasy. We can not be afraid to PUSH THE BOUNDARIES and be unorthodox. A couple days ago my dad shared with me his opinion of tradition. "You can throw tradition outdoors somewhere for all I care!" LOL!!! We must have the ability to adjust and push ourselves further than ever before. If we continue to do what we have always done, then we'll continue to get what we have always gotten. We are all gifted with some form of creativity, we must discover it and put it to work. The road to success is less traveled for a reason; it requires SACRIFICE; whether it be time, money, or even people. It costs more to travel across country than across town. It is lonely at the top because although everyone wants to be successful, very few are willing to do what it takes. We miss out on spending time with friends and family, it often costs money to get to where we are going, and some people even have to be removed from our lives if they are not headed in the same direction. We can not make it to New Orleans by traveling with people headed to Mobile. Lastly, we must UNDERSTAND OUR ADVERSITY. We must overcome it, learn the lessons from it, recognize the strength we gain by going through it, and let our testimony serve as encouragement to others. "Success is not measured by where a person makes it in life, but by the adversities they overcome to get there."

I am a FATHER

Brayden watching the USM Golden Eagles practice

Every daddy is NOT a FATHER. The term FATHER carries prestige, which requires responsibility and accountability. I am one that can say that I have a FATHER who represents every aspect of the word and is my role model for how I raise my son. Any person that creates life is a daddy, but those special ones who nurture it are FATHERS. In many cases, the FATHER that nurtures is not always the daddy that created, but nonetheless they are FATHERS. Our Heavenly FATHER provides us with examples of how we are to be with the children that He entrusts to us in the way that He loves us. He protects us (II Samuel 7:9), provides for us (II Samuel 7:10), offers guidance (Proverbs 11:14), as well as, administers correction when needed (Proverbs 15:10). He gives us unconditional love as a blueprint for us natural FATHERS to follow. During summer breaks while in school my FATHER would find odd jobs for us to do in order to teach me how to work and how to value a dollar. He generally ended up giving me the majority of the money because his main purpose was to teach me to how to work for a living, the value of hard work, and to do all that I can for myself. Most of my peers would say that I was spoiled growing up, but I beg to differ. I worked for everything I got. I had to spend my summer days roofing, doing remodeling work, cutting grass, etc to get the things I wanted. From these experiences I gained the will to work in order to be self sufficient, and now to provide for my son. I also remember my FATHER and I traveling through bad weather when our vehicle hydroplaned across the median of the interstate, but by the the grace of God we barely missed the 18-wheeler that we were on a collision course with. Because the incident happened so fast I think I forgot to become afraid (LOL) but one thing still stands out as clear as day to me; my FATHER reaching across the vehicle to shelter me from any potential danger that would lie ahead. He showed that he valued my life more than his own. That love was instilled in me that moment and I carry it with me now towards my own son.Yet, even though he loved me enough to shield me from any harm that could have resulted from an accident, he has purposefully administered some pain as well.... yeah I have gotten a few whoopings.... and yeah I mean whoopings, not whippings. On October 1, 2010 a 6 lb, 11oz, 21-inch boy named Brayden Makhi Massey was entrusted to me to protect, provide for, guide, and chastise when necessary. I remember the day like it was yesterday. I received a call around 11p.m. from his mother telling me that she was going into labor and was headed to the hospital. I sat in the room drinking coffee to keep from dozing off until the contractions became more frequent, and Folgers was no longer needed. Around 5 a.m. I, along with his grandmother, great grandmother and great GRANDFATHER, stood watching the birth of my son. Though I was too nervous to cut the umbilical cord (LOL) I did put on his first diaper and took the first picture holding him. I fell in love at that very moment and vowed that I would do everything in my power to ensure his safety and that all of his needs were met just as my father has done throughout my life. Likewise, Brayden has gotten his hand popped a time or two for being disobedient. I do it because I love him and do not want anything to negative to happen to him that I can steer him away from. It takes a FATHER to teach a boy to become a man, and I was blessed to see many faults within myself before he was ever born and had a chance to correct them. Whether you believe it or not, parents are their children's biggest role models. Now I face the battle of breaking him from being a "mama's boy." I love that fact that he loves his mother but also understand that a boy must grow up and toughen up. It is my duty to show him how to be a gentleman and treat women with respect. I also want a little girl later in life and then it will be my duty to provide her with an example of the type of gentleman she should look for. It takes a special man to be a FATHER and I embrace it more and more everyday. I hope more men will step up to the plate and be the influence that every child needs and be deemed worthy of being called a FATHER. I am a FATHER.

Focus on the IMPRESSION rather than the appearance

Kanye West said it best "the prettiest people do the ugliest things." This is because the outward appearance of a person can be beautiful even if their IMPRESSION is hideous. Appearance differs from IMPRESSION in the fact that it is outward while our IMPRESSION is inward, not only in its reflection of our inward self but also in what it cause others to inwardly think of us. A lot of us settle for only making our appearance pleasant because it tends to take less effort than working on our IMPRESSION, which is determined by our character. Proverbs 16:32 says "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." This tells us that our IMPRESSION is the most important aspect our lives. It is the true us; the things we value, our attitude, and inclinations. Focusing on our appearance will allow us to settle for merely looking like we are doing something, but placing priority on the IMPRESSION we make will hold us accountable for actually painting the very picture we are trying to portray. In Proverbs 22:1 it says that "A good name is more desirable than riches, to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." In other words, a good IMPRESSION is something that money can't buy, it's priceless, but for everything else there's Mastercard LOL! Our appearance only takes us as far as the eyes can see, but the IMPRESSION we make on others affects how they feel in their hearts about us. Many of us prejudge others and form opinions of the type of person they are just from their appearance. The type of clothes they wear, piercings, tattoos, weight, etc are all things that lead to us create an idea of who a person is. I'm sure laziness is one of the first attributes associated with someone who is overweight, whereas being professional is a trait often attributed to people who dress the part. The funny is, neither one is necessarily true. That overweight person could have the misfortune of inheriting a thyroid condition that affects their weight, and the person in the suit could be lazy, tardy, and does not follow any moral or ethical code of conduct. But, if we allow people to make an IMPRESSION on us it will eliminate any preconceived notions we have about them. We can make the mistake of passing up on people or things because they do not look the part and miss out blessings reaching for "fool's gold." Time is the tester of all things and if you give anyone of thing enough of it, its true character will surface. So be sure focus more on the IMPRESSION than the appearance.