30 days of Gratitude: Day 23

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30 Days of Gratitude, Day 2

Good Evening,

To have an attitude of gratitude is to be thankful for all things, big or small, good or not so good. It’s to remain in a spirit of humility as you acknowledge it could be worse.

But ALWAYS!!! Can anyone ALWAYS be something? I stand to be corrected, but may I encourage you to keep a mindset of thinking on something before reacting. In other words, for a snippet, for a moment, you may forget to have an attitude of gratitude, as this is a process!!! Sometimes you might have to “woosah” your way into an attitude of gratitude. And in those moments, Thank God for growth!!!

Ready to BE ACCELERATED INTO PURPOSE, but feeling stuck, complacent, less than, hidden…

Join me Every Monday morning at 10 am, cst (11 am, est) on Morning Breakthrough with KoKo

as I Help You Undo so God Can Do!!

30 Days of Gratitude, Day 1

Good morning. Missed yesterday, but may this still be a blessing to you!!!

Five Minute Friday: Broken

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” ~Romans 7:15-20~

I remember a time when I was so broken to the point it was as if I was torn between two worlds: Flesh and the Spirit. Listening to praise and worship and praying to God on one side… caving in to urges on the other.

How many of you understand the words of Paul in the passage above? Man! We shouldn’t dwell on our past to the point that it consumes or imprisons us, but often times I think back to where I once was – a Broken vessel, torn, depressed, tired, lost and confused, even dirty – much like the picture below.

Also, much like the picture above, the light was shining, the light never went away, but I had to choose to stand in its path. We all have to choose light over darkness.

I want to encourage someone wherever you are right now in your own pit of darkness, there’s a light shining for you too. Maybe you don’t see it, maybe you do, but feel you’re not worthy of it. I want you to know “In a desert land he [will find you], in a barren and howling waste. He [will shield you] and cared for [you], he [will guard you] as the apple of his eye.” ~Deuteronomy 32:10.

You don’t have to stay broken. There’s a God, a Heavenly Father, who will gladly put you back together again, and better than before.

I THANK GOD for loving me out of my brokenness, my darkness… into his Marvelous Light.

Blessings,

Men!!! Check out my latest book, From the Heart of God to the Hearts of Men. God sees, hears, and knows… yet he still has a purpose for you to fulfill!!!

Want in on the fun of Five Minute Friday? Visit http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/ for more info.

NEW BOOK RELEASE: See Self as God Sees

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Five Minute Friday: Culture

When I think of the world culture, I think diversity and not just from an ethnic perspective. Understanding the beautiful dynamic of ‘culture’ became really significant almost 17 years ago when I joined a small, multi-ethnic, diverse church that has grown phenomenally.

I learned from so many different people, but what stood out to me the most regarding culture was an event called Dinner in the Dark – an awareness event so to speak that opened our eyes (no pun intended) to the life of the blind. We are all so different, but it’s beautiful to see how our differences really complement each other. It’s even more beautiful when we allow ourselves to step outside of our comfort zones to understand those not so like ourselves. There’s so much to learn, so much to see and experience well beyond race, but also lifestyles, religious affiliations, hobbies…

How are you embracing other cultures?

Thanks for reading. If you have a love for writing, but often times not sure what to write about, this is a good place to start and stay as we receive weekly word prompts from Kate Motaungh via the Five Minute Friday Community Page. 

31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes ~ Day 14: Ask

It’s been a loooooonggg time since I’ve written here or participated in Five Minute Fridays, but here I am after receiving an email about the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes led by Kate Motaung. So the goal is to write for five minutes on the given writing prompt.

Time starts now:

Ask… Something I’ve struggled with for a long time, asking others for help. Mostly due to not wanting to bother someone else and also because of wanting it done a certain way and not wanting to bother others with my pickiness or perfectionist tendencies. This has also been a problem because some people expect something in return or will not give it the attention at the level of my expectation. I think several people can relate to these reasons.

There’s a saying that “a closed mouth don’t get fed” meaning if you don’t ask, you can’t expect to receive. I’m learning to ask, but still careful of who and what. But more importantly, what I’m learning is how to ask of God, but not according to my will, but His. His word says he will grant us the desires of our heart. What I’ve come to understand is the desires of our heart are to be aligned with His desires for us. So, yes, he will give what we ask, but according to his will. And we know his will, his way, this thoughts are greater than our own. ~15 seconds left~

 

31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes ~ Day 10: How

It’s been a loooooonggg time since I’ve written here or participated in Five Minute Fridays, but here I am after receiving an email about the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes led by Kate Motaung. So the goal is to write for five minutes on the given writing prompt.

Time starts now:

How?!? How do we end up in certain situations? How do we end up with certain people? How do we end up on the wrong side of the law? How do we end up falling in love with this type of person? How do we…? How did I…? Understanding the how of anything means going back to the beginning, peeling back layers, looking at things with a magnifying glass or microscope so that you’re crystal clear of where or what point in your life led you down this particular path. If you want to know how, you have to go back to a certain point, maybe even the beginning, but when you do, oh my… times up… be ready to accept the truth, even if you have to cry your eyes out. Knowing the reason why behind the how is a life-changing decision that prevents you from making the same or similar mistakes/decisions again.

31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes ~ Day 9: Inspire

It’s been a loooooonggg time since I’ve written here or participated in Five Minute Fridays, but here I am after receiving an email about the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes led by Kate Motaung. So the goal is to write for five minutes on the given writing prompt.

Time starts now:

‘Inspire’ is the first part of a personal saying, ‘Live Life to Inspire, Speak to Encourage, Do to Empower’. My mission is to live a life that inspires others to not only want to be better, but do what it takes to get to that next level. okay, i’m stuck…. I wish to inspire others through my words, my actions, but also through my writing. So many people living less than their capabilities, their potential… or sitting on their gifts, and it’s saddening sometimes to know they don’t realize how great they really are. Inspiration for me comes through the Word of God, realizing how he loved on so many regardless of their sins, mistakes, or failures. That’s the message of inspiration I impart to others… remember the name God gave you, take time to experience his love and grace and know that… time’s up… you are fearfully and wonderfully made to do great things to such a magnitude that it outlasts you, not for people to glorify you, but so that God may be glorified through your life.

31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes ~ Day 3: Believe

It’s been a loooooonggg time since I’ve written here or participated in Five Minute Fridays, but here I am after receiving an email about the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes led by Kate Motaung. So the goal is to write for five minutes on the given writing prompt.

So the clock begins now:

The first thing that comes to mind is a song… Not remembering the name, but the words are, “I believe in You! I believe You rose again. I believe in Jesus Christ…” What we choose to believe in sets the tone for every second, every minute, every hour, day, week, month, year, and so on… Everyday I have to remind myself to choose to believe in a certain thing… I have to remind myself to believe in the God I serve and that his will for me is greater than I could ever want. I choose to believe in a God I can’t see, yet his presence is so profound.

I believe we all have Greatness in us (saying that in my Les Brown voice), it’s just a matter of us turning our eyes, our focus, our vision towards God and ‘Seeing Ourselves as He Sees Us’. I believe when we allow ourselves to receive his love, it changes our whole perspective on life, on people, on situations that happen. I believe… in so many things, that there’s a Blessing in ALL… {time’s up} situations, if we just see them through our spiritual eyes, as opposed to our carnal eyes.