Life is like chess, every move you make is crucial to your survival at the end of the day. At times I wonder if I'm making the right choices in life. I question if I'm on the right path or if I understood what I was supposed to be doing right. I wonder if my parents are looking down at me cheering me on from heaven. Can you imagine a bleacher of saints cheering for you once you make that right move? I can hear the hoorays now...

Life Goes On.. God Keeps Me Strong

Would you cry tears of sorrow and pain when someone gives their life to God? No right! Today is my father's birthday, he past 4 years ago and this year I find it harder to cry over him. I'm starting to deal with him and my mother not being here more and more each year. Today though I started to think about my question I stated earlier. If I am happy that someone came to Christ; shouldn't I be just as thankful and happy someone went to be with him. Death is a hard thing to deal with, but it eases my heart when I know the person knew and loved God. They went off to be free off pain and stresses. To be full of joy and happiness. I feel like I would be selfish to want them to stay and deal with this life just for me.

I know my mother, father, and brother are all in a better place. I can't imagine crying or feeling bad for them not being here anymore. I know God has them!

People say to me all the time I don't know how your still standing. But I've been leaning on God all these years it's like I've been floating all along.

Be Thankful!

A customer came to my store today and after she ordered she said keep the coins just give me the bills. It's amazing to me that we take for granted the little things. We are so eager to have the big things, but skip the small steps to get there. Same thing with life we want the big house, fancy cars, and loads of money yet, most aren't willing to work for it. We expect things just to happen for us. God has given us many gifts yet, rarely do we use them how he wants us to. We'll ask him for this, that, and the third, but we won't take advantage of the blessings we have now. I know God is saying how can I trust you with the world if you can't deal with what you have now. We really need to start making the best out of our situations and cherish the small things we have. I know Popeye's isn't where God wants me to stay nor the small town i'm in. Yet, I will cherish and be thankful for every opportunity and blessing he sends my way. I hope you fill the same; Cheers to collecting this "change".

How much do you love Him?

John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

It's amazing the lengths people would go to please one another or a loved one. Yet, when God comes into play we run and question what He has to say. Or we even choose what and what not to believe in that He say. Like He said if we truly love him it should be like second nature to do His requests. A discussion with my fraternity brothers this morning brought me to the idea; that we are still like babies when dealing with God. We have to do certain things at first like a job because it's new to us. We have to mature for it to become a habit or a desirable task.

This then made me think about the statement at hand. If you love me you will obey my commandments. It's all centered around LOVE. You have to really love God or anyone to do something you aren't comfortable with at first. To push through your discomfort and continue to do what your asked or what you think is right, takes a lot out of you. Now the question arises, how much do you love God and what would you do for him?

I can't answer that question with out thinking about all the things God has done for me. I know that God expects so much from me and I love him enough to do all I need to to make Him happy. Cause He loved me enough to save my life and continue to be with me no matter how much I hurt him.

The Tie

Most countries off the Atlantic Ocean and Americanized countries see the tie as a symbol of professionalism. Putting on a tie is an act to show you took the time to prepare yourself. You care about how people perceive you. A professor of mine brought up the thought of how the tie came into existence. How did we all come in consensus on the tie being so powerful? I'm starting to question the origin and why we wear it yet, I can't stop putting it on. Zora Neale Hurston once said We are a people that decorate the decorations and I'm urged to agree. The tie has moved on from the formal perception, but is now an attribute to someones persona. It's a form of modern day art in some cases. Where you can present your sense of humour, style, authority, and so much more. It's a right of passage in our society, one of the first few tricks your dad, or mom, teaches you to advance in life. The practice of tying a tie teaches you patience and diligence since it never turns out right the first time. It teaches you the art of working with your hands. Certainly not last, but the last on my list, time management. You can't just throw on a tie and a few minutes before you walk out the house, you need time to prepare your self. Personally I feel the tie is a needed source of enlightenment that doesn't hurt to add to your style.

Happy Holidays, Merry X-Mas, and Seasons Greetings

I missed the memo when we agreed to take Christ out of Christmas

When we changed it to the holiday of pride and greed

I missed the message that read of how Santa became the new hero

And that he should get more praise than Jesus

Don’t look at me like I’m a Scrooge

Or like I’m trying to start a problem or something

I’m just saying why there are so many shows about Santa

But none about the birth or life of Jesus

Children all over staying up to the wee-hours of the night

Awaiting the Big Man baring gifts

Instead of praying or hearing stories about Jesus

And learning all his tales

I understand children need stuff to believe in

But who better to put their trust and faith in?

We make Santa this perfect idle

And made Christ’s birthday about us getting presents

When has it ever been cool to go to your friend’s birthday party

And steal their lime light and gifts

Make the entire event about them

Hey, I get it we all like receiving stuff

I like gifts just like the next guy

But let’s not obsess over it and make everything about us

Let us celebrate the gift of life, and

Celebrate our families and the time that you have with one another

Let us not forget who brought us together, and

Remember whose day it really is!

It not about us, don’t X-out Christ

Who you following?

"I'm following God, He got the GPS directions to true happiness!!! #stamp"

We get so used to following people who have no true value to us. We end up in a bad situations when we look to those who can do nothing for us. It's funny how we look to everyone else except God for directions and answers. When he knows exactly where we need to be to be happy. Why would we look pass the one who know the true directions, the true answers, without the bs from man. Just think how easier and/or less stressful life would be with ultimate help by your side! I'm just saying, who are you really following?

Isaiah 57:13

¹³ When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But whoever takes refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.”