Morning Leaders. “The God of light insists on traveling into dark places; the God of peace continuously involves Himself in the wars of men; the God who is good engages the depth of human evil. To follow Jesus is to enter the unknown, to relinquish security, and to exchange certainty for confidence in Him.” – Erwin Raphael McManus
God
Morning Leaders – Trust
Morning Leaders. “The most important lesson that I have learned is to trust God in every circumstance. Lots of times we go through different trials and following God’s plan seems like it doesn’t make any sense at all. God is always in control and he will never leave us.” – Allyson Felix // #Facts
Morning Leaders – Admit It
Morning Leaders. “I gave in, and admitted that God was God.” – C. S. Lewis // #Word
Morning Leaders – Think About It
Morning Leaders. “I’d rather not live like there isn’t a God then die and find out there really is. Think about it” — Kendrick Lamar // #Truth
Morning Leaders – Faith Is
Morning Leaders. “Faith is not in itself a meritorious act; the merit is in the One toward Whom it is directed. Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus…Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line” – A.W. Tozer
The Biblical Remix – YOLO
The Biblical Remix – YOLO
Luke 15:11-24 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixyolo
My boy Prodigal was going dolo so he rolled up on his pops and demanded his inheritance. Pops actually gave him the money. Within a short time Prodigal bounced from the family crib and went to some far away country.
With nobody around to tell him nuthing, Prodigal was straight wildin’ out. He was was getting drunk every night while partying with a couple of hookers at the local strip joint.
As Prodigal was paying for those bottles, this Drake song was playing in the background:
“You only live once: that’s the motto, YOLO, And we bout it every day, every day, every day, Like we sittin on the bench, we don’t really play…”
Reflection:
Why is YOLO usually used to justify doing things that are risky or stupid? What if YOLO were used as a reference for kids doing amazing things like staying after school to do homework, or doing a science project just for the fun of it, or going to serve senior citizens in a nursing home? Sounds silly doesn’t it.
Interestingly enough the Bible says Prodigal WASTED his money living recklessly. Some of the things we big-up in the hip-hop community and in pop culture the Bible considers a Waste. Yet how many videos do we see promoting this kind of behavior. How many dudes in their 40s and 50s are still up in the club trying to chase honeys half their age? And how many women do we see dressing like “hookers” all up in the club and even at a children’s birthday party (yes, I have seen this!). I think you understand where I am going.
What I do love about Jesus is he teaches us the true application of YOLO with His own words: “What good will it be for you to gain the whole world and lose your soul? For I am the way and the truth and the life and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. And He who hears what I am saying and trusts the One who sent Me has everlasting life. Because I have come that they may have life, and a life better than they have ever dreamed of.”
So if you are only going to live once, live for Jesus. #YOLO
The Biblical Remix – Thirsty
The Biblical Remix – Thirsty
John 4:3-18 – http://bit.ly/IRD75x
Jesus was mad tired from his journey through the country of Samaria. He and his boys stopped off at a hood called Sychar to rest. It was around noontime.
Tired and thirsty Jesus copped a squat by a well. He sent his disciples into town to pick up some food and some Twizzlers.
A Samaritan woman stepped up to the well to draw some water out of it with her bucket. Jesus kindly asked her if she would hook him up with a lil water from the well. She was mad surprised cause in those days Jewish people and Samaritans weren’t cool like that.
Jesus then started breaking down some spiritual truths to her but she wasn’t flowing with him. So he then he got open on her and asked her to go get her husband. She was honest and told him she ain’t have a husband. (Then this is my favorite part.) He then blows up her spot and tells her that she had five husbands already and the dude she is living with at the moment is not even her husband. (Dag! What did she feel like when this stranger just told her about herself?).
As she was reflecting on the truth of what Jesus said of having five divorces, this Stacy Lattisaw song was playing:
“With music softly playing, his lips were gently saying, “Honey I love you”, He held me in desperation, I thought it was a revelation, And then he walked out, I found love on a two way street, and lost it on a lonely highway…”
Reflection:
Break-ups suck! How many of us have experienced the horrible pain that comes with a break-up? You love the person but s/he no longer loves you. Or maybe it is the other way around and they are in love with you but you are not. Or perhaps you are both in love but can’t seem to work it out without emotionally killing each other. Well, I have experienced all three…lol…and the pain did hurt.
I think parts of our heart are so hurt by these breakups we become numb to love or to relationships. Recently I have been engaged in conversations where individuals seem more content on giving up on “love” rather than risking the danger of being hurt in a relationship. Avoidance is safer than engagement for them.
This has caused me to consider my own singleness. Am I avoiding pain? Upon reflection, my answer is no. Am I avoiding foolishness? Most definitely, especially if I see it clearly in front of me. Am I closing myself off to love and a relationship? Sometimes.
The idea of sharing my life with someone is something I take very seriously. Before I make an investment emotionally, physically, and spiritually, I do my research. Patience for me in this area is a virtue. I enjoy the friendship so I can get to know better who the person really is, not just get lost by her smooth presentation. I also want her to see me for who I really am and not get lost in her fantasy idea of me.
I say this because I have witnessed some people who get into relationships because basically they are mad thirsty. They just want to feel a little love and attention, even if the relationship is a train wreck from the get go. Sometimes being touched or touching someone is the only language of love some of us know (or want to know). I have watched how destructive that has been from my past experiences as well as the lives of some people I personally know.
Now what is it like to have been the Samaritan woman and have gone through not one, but five different divorces (big time break ups)? Finding rejection in five different marriages could easily shape a woman’s perspective on love and men (Can I get an “Amen”?). Perhaps those experiences explain why she was living with dude number six and not married to him (I’m just saying yo).
With all that being said, I love how Jesus, against social and religious customs, takes the time to meet her at her point of need. He goes into her hood, puts her business out there (in private conversation of course), and offers her a grace the religious folk and secular folk of that time (and even today) would never offer her. That is real love. That is real grace. It affected her so much she became the first person to proclaim to the masses about Jesus being the Messiah.
I pray that whatever situation you have gone through or are going through, that you would call out to Jesus so He can give you a living water that will quench your thirst for love, grace, and acceptance.
The Biblical Remix – Bow Down
The Biblical Remix – Bow Down
Esther 3:1-6 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixbowdown
When you step up to the big leagues you be rolling with kings. That’s what it was like for Haman. King Xerxes promoted him to be the top dawg in the government. He was now such a G, the king even ordered people to bow down and kneel before Haman.
My dude Mordecai was def not feeling that. He took offense at bowing down before a man as if he were God. Mordecai loved God and knew worshipping a man was no bueno.
One day a few of the servants were cracking jokes on Mordecai cuz he wasn’t bowing down whenever Haman showed up in the spot. Mordecai wouldn’t budge. They kept asking him day after day why he was bugging and not bowing down. When Mordecai got tired of them harassing him he told them he was a Jew.
You know how people are, so some of those same servants bounced over to Haman’s crib and started talking smack about Mordecai. They told Haman Mordecai was being mad disrespectful and Haman ought to go handle that. Haman had never peeped Mordecai before. So the next time Haman rolled by he looked out for Mordecai. Bam, that’s when he noticed Mordecai was the only person not bowing or taking a knee.
Haman was pissed off. In the midst of his rage he started scheming. In the background this Lox chorus rapped by Lil Kim was playing:
“It’s the key to life. Money, power, and respect, Whatchu’ need in life. Money, power and respect…”
Reflection:
Some of us want to be honored. And some of us want to be adored and even worshipped. We don’t say it outright but in our pride we want everyone to know how great we are.
When we step off the stage or when we step out of the pulpit, for some of us there is this craving for not just attention, but pure adoration. We want to know our words moved people. We want to know our stories not only got to people, but that we hit it out of the ballpark.
How do you stay humble in the things that you do very well? What do you do?
I find in many occasions God keeps me from getting the attention my pride wants and feels it deserves. When I don’t get it, that is when my prideful hearts starts jumping up and down. It doesn’t usually last long because I have gotten better with strangling it. But I cannot lie and act as if it doesn’t surface from time to time.
Truth be told, most people have no clue what I am involved in. I believe that low key element is truly designed by God. Perhaps if it were different I might get full of myself like Haman did.
Even though we may be achievers, we as a people are not all that. From time to time we need to remind ourselves that God is sovereign and that He is number one. We can easily be replaced. We are not the be-all and end-all of things.
The Bible teaches us that pride comes before a fall (Prov 16:18). Had Haman known that he wouldn’t have ended up beheaded (yeah, you have to read up to the end of Chapter 7 in the book of Esther).
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
The Biblical Remix – Dreams
The Biblical Remix – Dreams
Genesis 37:1-11 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixdreams
Having big families was the way it was back in the biblical day. When I say big family I am not talking about like a basketball squad. I am talking like a football squad.
My man Jacob had twelve sons. That’s right, Jacob was going in with his wives and concubines. With all them kids you know there had to be a favorite. (Sidenote: How do you remember the names of all them kids if you are the daddy…I’m just saying).
Anyway, Joseph (the second youngest) happened to be the favorite. His pops showed him mad love. He even bought him a colorful Louis Vuitton Lambskin Jacket with a matching pair of Wolf Grey Air Yeezy 2 sneakers.
Of course Joseph’s brothers were hating on him big time. It also didn’t help Joseph was OD happy to share about the two dreams he had where everyone in the family was bowing down to him in honor.
While Joseph was sharing his dreams and his brothers were looking at him with mad rage, this chorus of Bruno Mars was playing in the background:
“This one’s for you and me, living out our dreams, we’re all right where we should be…”
Reflection:
Some of us have seen our dreams played out right before our eyes in our imagination. Others have never dared to dream beyond their circumstances. And yet still there are those embracing and living out their dreams right here and right now.
What is a dream? What is this future reality/fantasy that stirs up this great longing inside of us?
For Joseph it was prophetic. God was literally showing him a portion of what would happen in his future. And God gave him the same message in two dreams.
What about you? What has God been saying to you? What dreams and longings has He been encouraging you to pursue?
Whatever they are I am encouraging you not to give up on your dreams. Though this world and/or your family may not embrace it, that is no cause to kill off the dream. You were made for more than the ordinary. Dare to live in the extraordinary. You know you are worth it.
The Biblical Remix – Can You
The Biblical Remix – Can You
Job 2:7-10 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixcanyou
Job had it real bad. Satan had struck him with sores all over his body. His breath was mad stank. He was in constant pain. And his wife looked at him like he was naaasty.
One day while he was sitting by a heap of trash his wife stepped to him and told him to curse God and just die. Daaaag!
Job looked at her and told her dead in her face she was a fool.
While his wife walked away with an attitude, this New Edition song played in the background:
“Storms will come, This we know for sure, (This we know for sure), Tell me baby can you stand the rain…”
Reflection:
Sometimes in relationships we align ourselves with people who buckle under the pressure and stop supporting us. That feeling sucks. Especially when you were diligent in supporting the other person all the way.
I was in that kind of situation some years ago. It was no bueno. I lost perspective and spent most of my energies trying to please her not knowing on her part it was conditional.
At the end of the day, I am a “ride or die” kind of guy. Therefore loyalty is a core value for me in a relationship. If we are in this together, then there is full commitment in spite of all the bullcrap.
Job needed that kind of support. Many of us need that kind of support.
Job was a real G because he did not take his wife’s advice. Actually he blew up her spot by calling her on her foolishness.
If the person you are with right now doesn’t fully support you by their ACTIONS (Note: I did not use their “words”), you might want to reexamine your relationship. However before you do that you better make sure your actions exemplify loyalty first. You cannot be a princess/prince and expect others just to serve you and you not do the same. (Note: I am biased against self-centered/selfish people. I am still learning to show mercy regarding their foolishness. If you just took offense to what I wrote, you might be that princess/prince…I’m just saying).